A2
(으)ㄴ 적이 있다 — having done something
How Korean expresses experience with 은 적이 있다, why it cannot take a dated event, and how it compares with 아 봤다.
The past modifier ending plus 적 (occasion) plus 있다 — an occasion of having done it exists.
한국에 간 적이 있어요.
Hanguge gan jeogi isseoyo.
I’ve been to Korea.
그 사람을 만난 적이 있어요.
Geu sarameul mannan jeogi isseoyo.
I’ve met him before.
Not the past tense
한국에 갔어요 reports a trip. 한국에 간 적이 있어요 reports that such a trip exists somewhere in your life. English blurs the two with have been; Korean does not.
어제 김치를 먹은 적이 있어요.
어제 김치를 먹었어요.
A dated event is a report, not an experience. 적이 있다 is for things that happened at no particular time.
The negative
적이 없다 — never, not once. Built on 없다 rather than on 안.
한 번도 간 적이 없어요.
Han beondo gan jeogi eopseoyo.
I’ve never been, not once.
한 번도 with a negative is the standard intensifier, in the same family as 아무도 and 하나도 — see 도.
Against 아/어 봤다
먹어 봤어요 and 먹은 적이 있어요 both cover I have eaten it. 아 봤다 is lighter and much more common in speech; 적이 있다 is heavier and suits something more notable.
번지점프를 한 적이 있어요.
Beonjijeompeureul han jeogi isseoyo.
I’ve been bungee jumping.
Used of something ordinary it sounds odd, in the way English I have eaten bread before does.