New K-Words: K-English

As South Korea’s popular culture continues to increase in popularity in the West, everything seems to be getting prefixed with a K: K-pop, K-drama, K-beauty, K-food, K-style. Whether it is watching a TV series like Squid Game or Hellbound or listening to K-pop bands like BTS, BlackPink or Twice, Korean culture is having a growing influence on our everyday lives. In the UK, the ‘Korean wave’ has reached the editorial offices of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the accepted authority on the English language. In its latest edition, the Dictionary has added twenty-six new words of Korean origin. Some of the new words are:

1 Hallyu

This refers to the increase in international interest in South Korea and its popular culture, especially as represented by the global success of South Korean music, film, television, fashion and food. It also means ‘South Korean popular culture and entertainment’ itself. It is frequently used as an adjective, as in ‘hallyu fan’ or ‘hallyu star’.

2 Mukbang

Also known as ‘eating show’, this is a video, especially one that is livestream, that features a person eating a large quantity of food and talking to the audience. It became popular in South Korea in 2010, and since then has become a global trend. Varieties of foods ranging from pizza to noodles are consumed in front of a camera.

3 Skinship

The word ‘skinship’ is a blend of two English words, ‘skin’ and ‘kinship’, following the model of the Korean word ‘seukinsip’ and the earlier Japanese word ‘sukinshippu’. It expresses the emotional bond that comes from close physical contact between a parent and child, lovers and friends, viewed as a means of expressing affection. It is also now fairly common to see parents outside of Korea or Japan in online forums talking about the role of skinship in good parenting, K-drama fans recommending a series for the good skinship scenes between its romantic leads, or K-pop fans gushing over the latest display of skinship between members of their favourite group.

4 Manhwa 

This is a Korean genre of cartoons and comic books, often influenced by Japanese manga, and also a cartoon or comic book in this genre.

5 Aegyo

‘Aegyo’ means ‘cuteness’ or ‘charm’, especially of the sort considered characteristic of Korean popular culture. It can also mean behaviour regarded as cute, charming or adorable. 

6 mukbang, noun

A video, especially one that is livestreamed, that features a person eating a large quantity of food and talking to the audience. Also: such videos collectively or as a phenomenon.

7 hallyu, noun

The increase in international interest in South Korea and its popular culture, esp. as represented by the global success of South Korean music, film, television, fashion, and food. Also: South Korean popular culture and entertainment itself. Frequently as a modifier, as in ‘hallyu craze’, ‘hallyu fan’, ‘hallyu star’, etc.

8 skinship, noun

Especially in Japanese and Korean contexts: touching or close physical contact between parent and child or between lovers or friends, used to express affection or strengthen an emotional bond.

9 manhwa, noun

A Korean genre of cartoons and comic books, often influenced by Japanese manga. Also: a cartoon or comic book in this genre.

10 aegyo, noun and adjective

Cuteness or charm, especially of a sort considered characteristic of Korean popular culture. Also: behaviour regarded as cute, charming, or adorable.