게 벌어지다

come apart, widen; (of events) happen

벌어지다 is a gap opening by itself — teeth spaced apart, a mouth gaping, a lead widening: 앞니 두 개가 이렇게 벌어져 있었던 거죠 'the two front teeth were spaced apart like this', 크게 벌어진 격차 'a gap that has widened a lot'. -게 gives the degree, usually a large one (크게, 넓게, 엄청나게, 강하게). The same verb has an unrelated second sense, an event taking place: 그 운명 같은 일은 대체 어떻게 벌어지는 걸까요? 'how do those fated things come about?'.

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