Learn Hardcore Korean: eumryo japangiga robi hanjjoge seolchidwae isseoseo pyeonrihaeyo. - It’s convenient that a beverage vending machine is installed on one side of the lobby.

이/가 marks the grammatical subject and is the default in existential/location sentences (N이/가 장소에 있다). Using 가 here highlights the existence/presence: “There is a vending machine (installed), so it’s convenient.” If you say 음료 자판기는…, you’re thematizing it (“as for the vending machine”), which is fine if it’s already the topic or you’re contrasting it with something else. With new information or simple descriptions of what exists where, 이/가 is more natural.

Why is the passive verb 설치돼 used instead of the active 설치해?

설치되다 is the passive “to be installed,” which describes the state/result after someone has installed it. Using 설치하다 (active) would mean “(it) installs,” which doesn’t fit because the machine isn’t doing the installing; it’s in the installed state. Korean commonly uses the passive + 있다 to express a resultative state: 설치돼 있다 = “is installed.”

What exactly does the chunk 설치돼 있어서 do?

It’s a layered construction:

설치되다 (be installed, passive)
- -어 있다 (be in a resultant state) → 설치되어 있다
- -아서/어서 (so/because) → 설치되어 있어서 Colloquially, 되어 contracts to 돼: 설치돼 있어서. The whole chunk means “since it is (in the state of being) installed.”

Is 돼 correct here? I get confused between 되 and 돼.

Yes, 돼 is correct. It comes from 되다 + 어 → 되어, which contracts to 돼. So:

되어 → 돼
되어 있어 → 돼 있어
되어 있어서 → 돼 있어서 Never write 되요; it should be 돼요 (e.g., 어떻게 돼요?). Use 되 when it isn’t followed by 어/아 (e.g., 되겠어요).

Is 설치되어 있어서 also acceptable, or must it be 설치돼 있어서?

Both are correct. 설치돼 is just the contracted form of 설치되어 and is very common in speech and casual writing. 설치되어 sounds a bit more careful or formal, but there’s no change in meaning.

What nuance does 있어서 add? Could I use 때문에 or 니까 instead?

있어서 (-아서/어서) gives a neutral, matter-of-fact reason: “since/because … is there.”
있기 때문에 is more explicit and formal: “… because there is …”
있으니까 can sound more speaker-centered or persuasive and is very common in conversation. All three work here; 있어서 is the simplest and most natural-sounding in everyday statements of reason.

Could I just say 자판기가 있어서 편리해요 and drop 설치돼?

Yes. 자판기가 있어서 편리해요 is perfectly natural and means “It’s convenient because there’s a vending machine.” Adding 설치돼 emphasizes the idea that it has been permanently set up/installed as a facility, but the core meaning is the same.

What’s the difference between 음료 and 음료수 here?

음료: “beverage/drink” (slightly more formal or category-like)
음료수: everyday word for “beverage/soft drink” Both collocate with 자판기, so 음료 자판기 and 음료수 자판기 are both used. 음료 may feel a bit more formal or written; 음료수 is very common in speech.

What does 자판기 mean? Is it an abbreviation?

자판기 means “vending machine.” It’s an abbreviation of 자동판매기 (automatic selling machine). Note that 자판 by itself can also mean “keyboard,” but in 자판기 it’s short for 자동판매기.

What does 로비 한쪽에 mean exactly? Is it “one corner,” “one side,” or “one part”?

한쪽 literally means “one side/one part.” 로비 한쪽에 is “on one side (part) of the lobby.” It doesn’t necessarily mean a corner; it’s more like “on one side/area.” If you want “in a corner,” you could say 로비 구석에, which feels more like an actual corner and can sometimes imply a tucked-away spot.

Is 로비의 한쪽에 also okay?

Yes, but 로비 한쪽에 (without 의) is more natural in everyday speech. The possessive 의 with place + part-of is often omitted in conversational Korean. 로비의 한쪽에 sounds a bit more formal or written.

Can I change the word order to 로비 한쪽에 음료 자판기가 설치돼 있어서 편리해요?

Yes. Korean word order is flexible. Fronting the location (로비 한쪽에) puts a bit more emphasis on the place. Both orders are natural:

음료 자판기가 로비 한쪽에…
로비 한쪽에 음료 자판기가…

How is 편리해요 different from 편해요?

편리하다: “to be convenient” (emphasizes convenience due to facilities, arrangement, location—more precise/neutral)
편하다: “to be comfortable/easy/convenient” (broader and more casual) Here, 편리해요 is ideal. In casual speech, some might say 편해요, which is understandable but less precise.

What level of politeness is this? How would it look in other levels?

Current: 해요 style (polite informal): …편리해요.
More formal: 합니다 style: …편리합니다.
Casual: 해 style: …편리해. All are fine depending on context and audience.

Any pronunciation tips for tricky spots in this sentence?

음료 → [음뇨] (the ㅁ + ㄹ/ㄴ+y glide turns to [뇨])
돼 → [돼] (not [되])
있어서 → [이써서]
편리해요 → [펼리해요] (ㄴ + ㄹ → ㄹㄹ) Saying it smoothly: [음뇨 자판기가 로비 한쪽에 설치돼 이써서 펼리해요].