Learn Hardcore Korean: bihaenggireul gidarimyeonseo saramdeureul bwayo. - While waiting for the plane, I watch people.

-면서 attaches to a verb stem to indicate that two actions happen simultaneously. In 기다리면서, it means “while waiting.” It links 기다리다 (to wait) to another action that occurs at the same time.

Can I connect the actions with -고 instead of -면서, like 기다리고 사람들을 봐요?

You could say 기다리고 사람들을 봐요, but -고 mainly lists actions or shows sequence (“do X and then do Y”). It doesn’t strongly imply simultaneity. So 기다리면서 is clearer when you mean “watch people while waiting” rather than “wait and then watch people.”

Which object goes with which verb: 비행기를 and 사람들을?

비행기를 takes the object marker 를 because it’s the object of 기다리다 (“wait for the plane”). 사람들을 also takes 를 because it’s the object of 보다 (“watch/look at people”). Each object matches its own verb.

Why is there no subject explicitly mentioned?

Korean often omits the subject when it’s clear from context. Here the speaker (I) is understood as the subject of both 기다리면서 and 봐요, so you don’t need to say 저는 or 나는.

What level of politeness is indicated by 봐요?

The -요 ending on 보다 (봐요) is the polite, informal style (해요체). It’s appropriate for everyday conversation with people you’re not extremely formal with.

Can I reverse the order of the clauses and say 사람들을 보면서 비행기를 기다려요?

Yes. Korean allows you to swap these dependent clauses. 사람들을 보면서 비행기를 기다려요 also means “I wait for the plane while watching people.” The emphasis or flow may feel slightly different, but the core meaning stays the same.

Why use 보다 for “watch” here? Could I say 사람들을 구경하다 instead?

보다 simply means “to see” or “to look at.” 구경하다 has a nuance of “sightseeing” or “looking around for fun.” If you want to emphasize that you’re casually observing people for entertainment, you could say 사람들을 구경하면서 비행기를 기다려요. But 사람들을 보면서 is a more neutral “just watching people.”

Is it possible to drop the 를 particle and say 사람들 봐요?

In very casual spoken Korean, particles like 를 are sometimes dropped, so 사람들 봐요 might be heard. However, including 를 makes the sentence grammatically clear and is recommended, especially in polite or written contexts.