에 의하여 / 에 의해(서): By Means Of, Due To, and Passive Agency

In formal Korean prose, legal jurisprudence, history textbooks, and journalistic reports, establishing who created something, through what mechanism an action occurred, or what specific cause generated an outcome requires the dignified construction Noun + 에 의하여 (and its spoken siblings 에 의해 / 에 의해서):

$$ \text{Agent / Mechanism / Cause} + \textbf{에 의하여 / 의해(서)}, \quad \text{[Passive Result / Effect]}$$

“By / By means of / Due to / Under the authority of [Noun], [Event] is effected.”

1. The Three Foundational Functions of ‘에 의하여’

1. The Passive Agent (“Created / Executed By…”)

In English, the passive voice relies heavily on the preposition “by” (e.g. “written by Shakespeare”). In Korean, while active voice is preferred in daily conversation, formal writing, history, and official journalism utilize Noun + 에 의하여 to designate the external creator or agent:

훈민정음은 조선 제4대 국왕인 세종대왕에 의하여 창제되었습니다.
Hunminjeongeum was created by King Sejong the Great, the fourth monarch of Joseon.

이 아름다운 건축물은 세계적인 건축가에 의해 설계되었습니다.
This beautiful architectural structure was designed by a world-renowned architect.

새로운 행정 수도 이전 계획은 국민 투표에 의해서 결정될 것입니다.
The plan to relocate the new administrative capital will be decided by a national referendum.

2. Legal Authority and Statutory Mandate (“Pursuant To / By Law”)

In legislation, courtroom verdicts, and administrative regulations, 에 의하여 designates the legal power under which an action is enforced:

대한민국 헌법 제1조 제2항: 대한민국의 주권은 국민에게 있고, 모든 권력은 국민물로부터 나온다.
(All state authority emanates from the people... and is exercised pursuant to law).

피고인은 도로교통법 제44조에 의하여 면허 취소 처분을 받았습니다.
The defendant received a license revocation penalty pursuant to Article 44 of the Road Traffic Act.

국가 안보에 심각한 위협이 발생할 경우, 대통령령에 의해 긴급 조치가 발동될 수 있습니다.
In the event that a grave threat to national security arises, emergency measures may be enacted by presidential decree.

3. Objective Cause and Catalyst (“Due To / Caused By…”)

Explaining the concrete catalyst behind accidents, natural phenomena, or technical malfunctions:

이번 대형 화재는 누전차단기 오작동에 의한 스파크로 인해 발생한 것으로 추정됩니다.
This major fire is presumed to have broken out due to a spark caused by a circuit breaker malfunction.

기계적 결함에 의하여 열차 운행이 약 30분간 지연되었습니다.
Train operations were delayed for approximately 30 minutes due to a mechanical defect.

2. The Adnominal Modifier Form: ‘Noun + 에 의한 + Noun’

Just like -에 대한 and -에 따른, when 의하다 modifies a subsequent noun directly, it adopts the adnominal form -에 의한:

$$ \text{Causal / Instrumental Noun} + \textbf{에 의한} + \textbf{Resulting Noun}$$

[Adverbial usage modifying verbs: 발생하다, 파괴되다]
✅ 무분별한 개발에 의하여 자연환경이 심각하게 파괴되었습니다.
   (The natural environment was severely destroyed by reckless development).

[Adnominal usage modifying nouns: 사고, 오염, 피해]
✅ 무분별한 개발에 의한 환경 파괴를 막아야 합니다.
   (We must prevent environmental destruction caused by reckless development).
❌ 무분별한 개발에 의하여 환경 파괴를 막아야 합니다. (Syntactically incomplete modifier).

High-Frequency Noun Combinations:

• 바이러스 감염에 의한 질병: Disease caused by viral infection.
• 인재(人災)에 의한 참사: Disaster caused by human negligence.
• 합의에 의한 계약 해지: Contract termination by mutual consent.

3. Register Spectrum & Natural Spoken Alternatives

While 에 의하여 is revered in print, overusing it in casual conversation makes you sound like a legal document or a translated textbook:

4. Summary Diagnostic Checklist

When applying 에 의하여 / 에 의해(서) / 에 의한:

1. Are you writing formal prose identifying the creator or agent of a passive verb? Use Noun + 에 의하여 / 의해 (e.g., 전문가에 의해 검증되다).
2. Are you citing legal statutes, regulations, or official authority? Use 법률/규정에 의하여.
3. Are you modifying a following noun? Always use the adnominal form Noun + 에 의한 + Noun (e.g., 부주의에 의한 사고).
4. Is it everyday casual conversation with friends? Avoid stiff passive voice; convert to active sentences with -아서/어서, -로, or direct subjects.