· Slangdunk Editors
What does 추구미 (chugumi) mean? The Korean slang for the look you're going for
추구미 (chugumi) is Korean slang short for “the beauty I pursue”: the style or vibe you aspire to. It started on X and spread widely from late 2022, picking up a reality-check partner, 도달가능미 (“attainable beauty”).
At a glance
- Meaning
- Short for 추구하는 미, “the beauty I pursue”: the style, image or vibe you're aiming for. Used as in “totally my 추구미.”
- Origin
- It first appeared on X (formerly Twitter) and spread to blogs and YouTube from the second half of 2022 (Careet). Nobody knows who coined it.
- Its partner
- The version you can realistically reach is called 도달가능미, “attainable beauty.” Memes comparing the two went viral alongside it (Weekly Donga).
- Usage
- Fashion and makeup, but also speech, habits and overall vibe. Some say it's replacing “role model” and “wannabe.”
Saturday afternoon. A high-schooler holds up a photo on her phone and tells her mom, “This is my 추구미 for this semester.” Mom is more curious about the word than the photo. The characters are made up; every fact in their conversation is sourced.
What does 추구미 mean? A daughter explains
- Mom (49)추구미? Some kind of… seaweed soup?
- Daughter (17)추구 means pursue, 미 means beauty. It's the style or vibe you want to have. The Seoul Economic Daily's slang dictionary calls it ‘the aesthetic style, image or mood you aim for.’
- Mom (49)So like ‘wannabe’ in my day.
- Daughter (17)Similar, but wider. Not just clothes or makeup — the way you talk, your room, your daily routine can all be your 추구미. Careet says people now use it instead of ‘role model.’
- Mom (49)Who came up with it?
- Daughter (17)Nobody knows. All we know is it started on X and spread to blogs and YouTube from the second half of 2022.
- Mom (49)So this photo is your 추구미 for the semester?
- Daughter (17)Yep. Lots of kids pick a concept every new semester. The problem is the 도달가능미.
- Mom (49)The… attainable what?
- Daughter (17)The look you can actually reach. Weekly Donga quoted a famous meme: “My 추구미 is actress Kim Go-eun, but my 도달가능미 is Jang Yi-soo.” Jang Yi-soo is a gangster character from the film The Roundup.
- Mom (49)Ha! Then my 추구미 is the girl in your photo, and my 도달가능미 is the yoga teacher down the street.
- Daughter (17)Mom, you nailed it. And when you see a photo like that, the word you say is 완내스 — ‘totally my style.’
추구미
Short for “the beauty I pursue”: the style, image or vibe you aspire to. It covers not just looks but attitude and lifestyle.
In Korean: '추구하는 미(美)'의 줄임말. 내가 닮고 싶거나 목표로 하는 스타일, 이미지, 분위기.
- 이 사진 완전 내 추구미야. 저장해 둬야지This photo is totally my 추구미. Saving it.Scrolling Pinterest
- 이번 학기 추구미는 '도서관에 사는 문학소녀'로 정했어My 추구미 this semester: ‘literary girl who lives in the library.’Group chat, the night before school starts
- 추구미는 꾸안꾸인데 도달가능미는 그냥 안꾸My 추구미 is effortlessly chic; my 도달가능미 is just… effortless.A morning when [꾸안꾸](/w/ko/%EA%BE%B8%EC%95%88%EA%BE%B8) didn't work out
- 회의 때 침착하게 말하는 팀장님 화법이 요즘 내 추구미야The way my boss stays calm in meetings is my 추구미 lately.Used for attitude, not looks
Why is 추구미 everywhere?
“Role model” sounds grand and “wannabe” sounds a bit embarrassing. 추구미 sits in between and lets you name your taste lightly. It doesn't have to be a person — one photo or one mood can be your 추구미, which suits a Pinterest-style habit of collecting images. Best of all, its partner 도달가능미 lets you laugh at the gap between the dream and the mirror. Hunting for a 추구미 is also part of the daily routine of every 트민남, Korea's eager trend-chaser.
추구미 (chugumi): frequently asked questions
Q. What does 추구미 mean?
It's short for 추구하는 미, “the beauty I pursue”: the style, image or vibe you aim for. It's used for fashion and makeup, and also for how you talk or live.
Q. Where does 추구미 come from?
It first appeared on X (formerly Twitter) and spread to blogs, YouTube and other platforms from the second half of 2022 (Careet, June 18, 2024). Who first used it is unknown.
Q. What's the difference between 추구미 and 도달가능미?
추구미 is the ideal you dream of; 도달가능미 is the version you can realistically reach. Memes joking about the gap went viral together (Weekly Donga, Jan 8, 2025).
Q. What's 추구미 in English?
There's no exact match, but “my aesthetic,” “style goal” or “the vibe I'm going for” come close. “Aspirational look” also works.
Q. How do you find your 추구미?
There's no single method. Many people collect photos they're drawn to and look for what they share. Critics note that a 추구미 often ends up as a short-lived concept, so it's best enjoyed lightly.
So: 추구미 is a light way of putting “who I want to be” on the table. That evening, Mom made a new photo album on her phone called 추구미. The first picture was the yoga teacher. If you have a sharper definition, add it to the 추구미 entry in the dictionary.
Sources
See ‘추구미’ in the dictionary — more definitions, examples, and your own take.
Open the dictionary