Grammar
N와/과 관계없이
Meaning
AdvancedN wa/gwa gwangyeeopsi
Says that the result does not change no matter what N is. Very common in rules and policies, where it marks the condition that has stopped mattering. The noun in front is often 여부, an abstract noun meaning 'whether or not something is the case', so N 여부와 관계없이 comes out as 'regardless of whether it is N': 사용 여부와 관계없이 = whether it was used or not, 예약 여부와 관계없이 = whether you have a reservation or not.
Form
와 after a noun ending in a vowel (날씨와 관계없이), 과 after a noun ending in a consonant (성별과 관계없이). The variant 에 관계없이 occurs with the same meaning. Put 여부 in between to turn the noun into a yes-or-no question first: 예약 → 예약 여부와 관계없이 ('regardless of whether there is a reservation'). To cover a whole clause rather than a bare noun, nominalise it with -는지 여부: 신청했는지 여부와 관계없이. In everyday speech 상관없이 replaces 관계없이 with no change of meaning.
Examples
매크로 사용 여부와 관계없이 암표 거래는 단속 대상입니다.
Regardless of whether a macro was used, trading in scalped tickets is subject to enforcement.
박물관은 예약 여부와 관계없이 오후 6시에 문을 닫습니다.
The museum closes at 6 p.m., regardless of whether you have a reservation.
이 행사는 나이와 관계없이 누구나 참여할 수 있습니다.
Anyone can take part in this event, regardless of age.
날씨와 관계없이 경기는 예정대로 열립니다.
Regardless of the weather, the match will be held as scheduled.
Common mistakes & nuance
관계없이 is written as one word, and the space falls before 여부, not inside 관계없이: 사용 여부와 관계없이. The phrase belongs to formal and official Korean — notices, terms of service, regulations. Remember that it removes a condition rather than adding one, so whatever follows applies across the board.
Similar grammar
- N와/과 상관없이
상관없이 and 관계없이 mean the same thing and can swap places. 관계없이 is the one that turns up in official notices and regulations; 상관없이 is what you hear in conversation.
- -아/어도
-아/어도 concedes one specific case ('even if it rains, the match goes ahead'). N와/과 관계없이 dismisses the whole question at once ('whatever the weather'), which is why rules and policies prefer it — one phrase covers every case instead of listing them.