People types slang

"Mom's friend's son" — used for someone impossibly accomplished compared to you. The female form is "eomchindal" (mom's friend's daughter); there's also "bu-chinnam" (wife's friend's husband).

Short for "eojjeoradago" ("so what am I supposed to do about it") plus "TV" — a dismissive way of telling someone to go watch TV instead of bothering you.

Doing it perfectly, neatly, and with style

Describes someone who can't play the League of Legends champion Yasuo well, or the situation of playing him badly. The opposite is "Ya-pilseung" (guaranteed win with Yasuo).

"Cafe-study tribe" — people who use cafes as a study or work space, often camping in a corner for hours.

He is a person who loves his daughter dearly, like a fool who knows nothing but his daughter.

An abbreviation of ‘a worthless person whom one has never heard of or seen,’ used to refer to someone who is not well known to the public in a derogatory way.

It is a person who likes something so much that they might appear strange, but tries to appear like an ordinary person to those around them.

It is an abbreviation of 'Join in when you should, and back out when you should'.

An insult for someone who is genuinely terrible at playing a game. Originated on DC Inside's StarCraft gallery, where a user said someone playing badly in a team match must be controlling with their feet — combining "foot" (bal) with "control." Someone especially bad is a "gae-balkeon." Not used insultingly in sports or games like DDR where feet are actually the point.

Borrowed from Japanese. Usually describes a fictional hero with extraordinary powers, distinct from "yongsa" (a soldier honored for real accomplishments). In Korean internet use, it can also mean someone who does something reckless that most people wouldn't dare.

1) "Damn good at something" (shortened, with a crude intensifier) — someone you look up to, sometimes called a "named" figure in their field. 2) "Damn good-looking" (shortened).

It is an interjection used to express positive expectations in gambling or investment, but its meaning has expanded to be used when speaking of wishes.

It is the opposite of "instant millionaire." It is a neologism referring to a situation where, as real estate prices skyrocket, the wealth gap between homeowners and non-homeowners widens significantly in a short period, causing someone to become relatively destitute in an instant. While interpretations vary, it is merely a relative expression and not absolute. It is also used to describe someone who has lost their entire fortune through gambling or Bitcoin.

Short for "did that scratch you?" — needling someone who seems rattled. Comes across as rude.

"Extremely disgusting/hateful," shortened.

Short for "attention seeker," used dismissively of someone who works too hard to be noticed.

It is an abbreviation of "clacking dentures," a derogatory term used to belittle older people who use their age as an excuse to lecture young people or violate etiquette in public places. A similar term is "kkon-dae."

A blend of "annoying/bothersome" (gwichanta) and the suffix "-ism" — the general state of finding everything too much effort. Someone deep in it is a "gwichanist."

"Temu human" — someone who looks impressive on the surface but turns out to be flimsy inside, like a cheap Temu product.

Short for mutuals — people you follow who follow you back.

"Don't feed the idiots" (shortened) — telling people to ignore someone who's derailing a forum's mood or causing a scene.

"MBTI + Christian" — someone who treats MBTI like a religion and explains everyone's behavior by their personality type.

He is someone who acts serious and fails to read the atmosphere.

A derogatory term for someone obsessively devoted to something or someone — especially a celebrity — to the point of making other people uncomfortable. Male super-fans are called "ppa-dori," female ones "ppa-suni." The opposite, someone fixated on hating a target, is a "kka."

From Google's AI "Gemini" — a person who hands every question and decision, big or small, over to AI.

It is used to mock people who pretend to be Korean hipsters by borrowing the place name ‘Hongdae,’ which refers to the area near Hongik University, a symbol of indie culture.

"Playing League of Legends with your mouth," meaning someone who talks a big game but doesn't back it up with actual skill.

A term referring to a frustrating situation or a person who feels as stifled as if they had eaten too many sweet potatoes.

Originally a Japanese word for "the real thing," but in Korean subculture communities it's used for someone who causes real harm or trouble to others.

A suffix for someone who unconditionally criticizes and opposes a specific target, attached after the target's name. From a word meaning "to run down/trash-talk."

It is an abbreviation of ‘culture loser’ and refers to someone who is slow to catch on to trends.

This is a person who lives in luxury, born into a family lacking nothing in terms of parents' annual income and home environment.

"Chewing doctor" — someone who knows every good restaurant and what to order, an expert in eating.

Blends "copy" with the suffix "-dori" (a person) — someone who uses pirated, illegally copied games or software instead of a legitimate copy.

"Someone who falls in love fast," shortened.

"Cat butler" — someone who owns a cat, from the idea that cats see their owner not as a master but as staff who serve them.

In a game, sacrificing your own health to nearly kill an opponent, only for someone else to swoop in and steal the kill — or, someone who dies by tunnel-visioning on a kill instead of watching their surroundings.

In MMORPGs, a high-level player boosting a low-level player's experience gains by partying with them, splitting shared XP unevenly in the lower player's favor. The origin is debated — either from a word meaning "to handle/process," or from slang for someone who tags along behind a stronger player.

"Acting with your feet," shortened — describes someone who is extremely bad at acting.

"The answer's already decided, you just have to say it" (shortened) — describes someone who asks a question while clearly expecting one specific answer.

"Black-haired foreigner" — someone ethnically Korean but holding foreign citizenship.

"Returned man" — the opposite of "sold-out man/woman," referring to someone who married and then divorced.

Short for "finger princess/prince" — a mocking term for someone who asks others things they could find with a quick search.

A cute pet name for someone you love.

A term derived from the Japanese word *Ieunji*, meaning "mania," modified to resemble a Sino-Korean word. It refers to a person who focuses intensely on a particular field. The term "odeokhu" was first used in the Animation Gallery on DC Inside in 2005. The activities performed by an odeokhu are called *deokjil*.

Someone who pretends to be a different person online, usually with fake photos.

From Japanese "otaku" (enthusiast/nerd), used pejoratively for someone obsessively attached to Japanese culture, and more broadly for anyone with an intense fixation on a hobby or interest. In Korea it's commonly used to mock fans of Japanese anime/culture specifically. A harsher version is "sipdeokhu" ("10x otaku").

Someone who loves and collects lipsticks in particular — buying every new one that comes out, and often finding more joy in collecting them than actually wearing them.

People who follow you back on social media.

Someone who lectures others and forces their own way of doing things. Originally meant an older person, now used for anyone who acts that way.

"Surplus/leftover" — used for someone who feels like they contribute nothing and just idles their time away, often self-deprecatingly.

"Are you a T?" — teasing someone for answering with cold logic instead of empathy, after the Thinking (T) type in MBTI.

Someone who posts provocative things to upset people and start fights.

Someone who tries too hard to impress or win.

"A man who tore his way out of a comic" — someone unrealistically good-looking, as if drawn. Female version: manjjinnyeo.

Blends "cat" with "mom" — refers to people who feed and look after stray cats without owners, as unofficial caretakers.

Someone who got ahead thanks to famous or connected parents.

"Resignation-prep student" — someone still employed but preparing to quit, a play on chwijunsaeng (job seeker).

From Japanese internet slang ("mental health" + -er) — someone, or a character type, who is emotionally unstable and clingy.

Someone who reads online communities without ever posting.

Short for "solo since the womb" — someone who has never been in a relationship.

1) A macho, manly man — the straightforward original meaning. 2) Someone who has smoked marijuana — after a drug scandal, videos referencing "macho man" spread and popularized this second, unrelated sense.

A man who falls for the seduction of an incompetent woman and is exploited by her

"Lean meat generation" — people who trim away unnecessary relationships and keep their time to themselves.

"The finisher" — someone at the very top of their field, similar in meaning to "kingwangjjang." "Jonggyeol" means to bring something to an end, so combined with "person," it becomes someone who ends all competition — implying further competing against them would be pointless.

Short for "someone who doesn't even know [X]" — attached after a topic, e.g. "wine-almot" (clueless about wine).

He is someone who is very good at something.

Go outside and get off the internet — told to someone who's too online.

Short for "anger-control disorder" — used loosely for someone who blows up over small things.

Someone who tells on others to an authority.

A woman who's ambitious and successful in business; now often used ironically.

Someone who seems to act on autopilot, without original thought — from non-player characters in games.

Said of a woman who is iconic and inspiring in what she does.

A beginner, especially an unskilled one in games.

"Too much talker" — someone who talks far too much. Spread as a nickname for baseball commentator Park Chan-ho.

From "outsider" — someone who keeps to themselves, often said about oneself without shame.

Someone who puts down others of their own group to seem more appealing — "pick me instead."

A pun on "serious" (jinji) + Genghis Khan: someone who conquers a fun, joking mood by being way too serious.

Short for "did someone threaten you with a knife?" — a sarcastic retort telling a complainer they chose it themselves and must live with it.

Someone who goes to excessive lengths for a person they like, usually without it being returned.

Short for "a monster born of capitalism" — someone who'll do anything for money, often used self-mockingly when cash changes your attitude. Spread through Korean streaming culture.

Short for "no feeding" — don't feed the trolls; ignore someone who is provoking you for attention.

Short for "scraping together even your soul" — pooling every last won, loans included, to buy a home or invest.

Short for "Oh, this one knows how to have fun?" — a playful compliment for someone who clearly knows how to party or fit in with the cool crowd.

"Confession attack" — springing an unwanted love confession on someone who has no interest, leaving them awkward and uncomfortable; often used as a self-deprecating joke.

A baby-talk way of saying 강아지 (puppy); used affectionately for dogs and, by extension, for anyone or anything adorable, like a favorite idol.

A "hexagon person" — someone who scores high in every area of life (looks, education, job, wealth, family, personality), like a maxed-out stat chart in a video game.

Short for "madman with clear eyes" — someone who looks innocent and bright-eyed but acts with unexpected, unfazed boldness.

"Plant butler" — someone who devotedly cares for houseplants, modeled on calling pet owners their pets' "butlers."

Someone who always sticks to the same one thing (same menu, same hobby). From a meme about people who only ever order Dongdaemun Yeopgi tteokbokki; used as gentle teasing.

Someone juggling several jobs or side gigs at once — "N" (many) + "job" + "-er."

A pun on "rainbow" (무지개): 무지 ("very") + 개매너 ("awful manners") — someone who is extremely rude.

Short for "traditional wife" — a woman who embraces traditional homemaker roles and often promotes that lifestyle on social media. The term is frequently used critically.

"Steel mentality" — nerves of steel; someone who stays unshaken no matter the pressure. The opposite of 유리멘탈.

A literal Korean rendering of "take the L" — used to taunt someone who lost, and now often tossed out as a random meme.

Short for "cool + loser" — a put-down for someone who tries so hard to seem above it all that it comes off as cringe.

Literally "8th-grade syndrome" — mocking term for the edgy, self-important posturing typical of early teens, like acting as if you have hidden powers or a tragic past.

An insult for someone seen as stupid, gross, or obnoxious, roughly "loser" or "jerk" — "Stop being such a chud."

From the StarCraft transport unit — someone who's bossed around into running errands for others, often a bullied student. Combines into words like 빵셔틀 ("bread runner").

To fake an identity or lifestyle for an audience, like a poser — "He's not a gym guy, he's just larping for Instagram."

A derogatory label for someone who eats a lot or is overweight — "Ordering three entrées is big back behavior."

A man who seems to fake sensitive or feminist-leaning tastes to appeal to women — think matcha lattes, tote bags and feminist paperbacks read in public.

Slang for a gym fanatic who lives for lifting — roughly "gym rat"; now often used jokingly, though its origin is vulgar, so avoid it in formal settings.

A pun on 확진자 (confirmed COVID case) — someone who gained a lot of weight from staying home during the pandemic.

Short for "a man who became a dragon from a ditch" — a self-made man who rose to success from a poor background. The gender-neutral form is 개룡인.

Literally "stamped No. 2": a label for people who voted for ballot No. 2 (Yoon Suk-yeol) in the 2022 presidential election, later for People Power Party supporters in general. Used mainly by pro-Democratic communities and considered derogatory.

"Stamped No. 1": someone who voted for ballot No. 1 (Lee Jae-myung) in 2022, or a Democratic Party supporter generally. Conservative communities use it as a put-down mirroring 2찍, while some Democratic supporters use it neutrally about themselves.

Someone, usually online, who makes deliberately dark, offensive, or nihilistic statements just to shock people — "Ignore him, he's just being an edgelord."

A blend of "modify" and "consumer" — someone who customizes a product to their own taste instead of following the maker's directions, like mixing two instant noodles to make jjapaguri.

Short for "mint-choco squad" — people who love mint chocolate; haters are called "반민초."

A playful word for someone who can't handle spicy food — people often use it about themselves. It's the opposite of 맵부심, pride in eating spicy food.

Literally "turning black" — when a kind or ordinary character (or person) turns dark or villainous; also used jokingly for someone who's gone cold after being pushed too far.

A "secondhand rookie" — someone with prior work experience who applies for entry-level positions again, as opposed to a true first-time hire (쌩신입).

Short for "key associates of Yoon" — politicians seen as President Yoon Suk-yeol's inner circle during his term, usually used critically. A spin-off, 윤핵관 호소인, mocks people who merely claim to be in that circle.

Short for "person who works well" — someone who gets things done quickly and accurately at work. Used as a compliment among office workers.