Trending Korean slang, explained

What does 오운완 (oun-wan) mean? How one Korean hashtag changed the gym

오운완 is short for “today's workout, done” — what Koreans tag on social media after exercising. In 2022 it was one of Instagram's fastest-growing hashtags in Korea.

#10 · Sat, Oct 24, 2026

What does 늙크크 (neulkkeukeu) mean? The opposite of “young creator crew” — and why it reached 40-somethings fastest

늙크크 flips 영크크 (young and trendy) to mean old-school vibes or someone behind the trends. In Edaily's analysis, it was among the fastest slang words to reach people in their 40s.

#9 · Sat, Oct 24, 2026

What does 럭키비키 (lucky Vicky) mean? The Korean “Wonyoung mindset” that turns bad luck good

럭키비키 combines “lucky” with “Vicky,” the English name of IVE's Jang Won-young. It's a relentlessly upbeat way of seeing setbacks, and it swept Korea in 2024.

#8 · Sat, Oct 24, 2026

What does 스불재 (seubulljae) mean? The Korean slang for “I did this to myself,” from a 1997 anime song

스불재 is short for “a disaster you brought on yourself.” Koreans use it to laugh at their own self-made messes — and it comes from a 1997 anime theme song.

#7 · Sat, Oct 24, 2026

What does 샤라웃 (syaraut) mean? How “shout out” became Korean slang, from hip-hop to office chat

샤라웃 is the English “shout out” written in Korean. It means publicly naming someone to thank or praise them.

#6 · Sat, Oct 24, 2026

What does 갓생 (gatsaeng) mean? The Korean “god-tier life” that replaced YOLO

갓생 combines “god” with 생 (life) and means living a planned, productive life. It grew with the pandemic, and mentions more than doubled in two years.

#5 · Sat, Oct 24, 2026

What does 젬민이 (jemmini) mean? The Korean slang for people who ask AI everything

젬민이 blends Google's AI “Gemini” with 잼민이, slang for a bratty kid. It's 2026 Korean slang for someone who lets AI make even the smallest decisions.

#4 · Sat, Oct 24, 2026

What does 알빠노 (albbano) mean? How “not my problem” became a Korean meme

알빠노 is Korean internet slang for “is that my problem?” It's shorthand for cool indifference — and it was once named the “most hated new slang” in an online debate.

#3 · Sat, Oct 24, 2026

What does 난리자베스 (nallijabeseu) mean? The Korean slang that summons a queen for chaos

난리자베스 is 2026 Korean slang that tacks Queen Elizabeth's name onto 난리 (“uproar”). It's how you laugh off a hectic, everything-at-once kind of day.

#2 · Sat, Oct 24, 2026

What does 밤티 (bamti) mean? The Korean slang for “ugly” without saying ugly

밤티 is Korean slang for “tacky” or “just off”, said sideways. It started with an avatar in a game that no longer exists, and took 16 weeks to spread from people in their 20s to people in their 40s.

#1 · Fri, Oct 23, 2026