Korean culture, especially its modern pop culture and media, has become a global phenomenon, popularly known as the Korean Wave or “Hallyu.” This article introduces some essential Korean vocabulary related to this vibrant aspect of Korea, helping you better understand and discuss Korean media and pop culture in Korean.
한류 (Hallyu) – Korean Wave; refers to the global popularity of South Korea’s cultural economy exporting pop music, TV dramas, and movies.
요즘 한류가 전 세계적으로 인기가 많아요.
케이팝 (K-pop) – Korean pop music, known for its wide range of styles and genres, combining traditional Korean music with Western influences.
케이팝은 세계적으로 유명한 음악 장르가 되었어요.
드라마 (Deurama) – Drama; in the Korean context, it generally refers to television dramas, which are a significant part of Korean media.
많은 사람들이 한국 드라마를 좋아해요.
영화 (Yeonghwa) – Movie or film; South Korea has a robust film industry that has produced internationally acclaimed movies.
이 영화는 한국에서 제작되었어요.
아이돌 (Aidol) – Idol; refers to members of Korean pop groups, highly trained in singing, dancing, and sometimes acting.
그 아이돌은 춤과 노래를 정말 잘해요.
뮤직비디오 (Myujikbidio) – Music video; often elaborate and highly stylized videos made for individual songs.
이 뮤직비디오는 유튜브에서 조회수가 백만을 넘었어요.
팬미팅 (Paenmiting) – Fan meeting; an event where fans can meet and interact with their favorite idols or actors.
팬미팅에서 좋아하는 가수를 만났어요.
셀럽 (Selleop) – Celeb; short for celebrity, used to refer to popular figures in the entertainment industry.
그 셀럽은 매우 유명해요.
버라이어티 쇼 (Beoraieoti Syo) – Variety show; a television program that includes a variety of entertainment formats like comedy, singing, and games.
매주 그 버라이어티 쇼를 보는 것을 좋아해요.
웹툰 (Weptun) – Webtoon; digital comics or manhwa that are published online and have become a significant aspect of Korean digital culture.
이 웹툰은 정말 재미있어서 매일 보고 있어요.
리얼리티 쇼 (Rieolliti Syo) – Reality show; a television program depicting real-life situations or featuring ordinary people instead of professional actors.
그 리얼리티 쇼는 실제 사람들의 일상을 보여줘요.
OST (OST) – Original Sound Track; music specifically composed for a drama or movie.
이 드라마의 OST는 정말 감동적이에요.
컴백 (Keombaek) – Comeback; used to describe a K-pop group releasing new music after a period of inactivity.
우리가 좋아하는 그룹이 이번 달에 컴백해요.
프로듀서 (Peurodyuseo) – Producer; a person responsible for the production and development of music tracks or albums.
이 앨범의 프로듀서는 유명한 작곡가예요.
캐스팅 (Kaeseuting) – Casting; the process of selecting actors or performers for specific roles in films or dramas.
이 영화의 캐스팅 과정이 흥미로워요.
에피소드 (Episeodeu) – Episode; a single part or installment of a television series.
이 드라마의 다음 에피소드가 기대돼요.
시청률 (Sicheongryul) – Viewer ratings; the percentage of viewers who watch a particular television show or broadcast.
이 드라마의 시청률이 높아서 인기가 많아요.
These terms should give you a solid foundation to discuss and explore more about Korean pop culture and media. As you dive into the world of K-pop, dramas, and movies, knowing these terms will enhance your understanding and appreciation of Korean entertainment.
