This is the 15025th most frequent Korean word.
발동했다
"발동했다" means "activated" or "initiated."
Here, '발동했다' is used to describe the enactment or activation of a law or clause.
법률 조항이 비상 상황에서 발동했다.
The legal clause was activated in an emergency.
In this context, '발동했다' means to start or set a machine or engine in motion.
기관이 멈추지 않도록 모터를 발동했다.
The motor was started to prevent the engine from stopping.
In this sentence, '발동했다' refers to the activation or exercise of one's authority.