Say "Small-Scale Permit" Instead of "Small License"

"Fish Farming Method" Recommended as Alternative Term for "Aquaponics"

On October 12, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Institute of the Korean Language recommended replacing the term "small license" with the Korean equivalent "small-scale permit." They also suggested "fish farming method" and "clouded mind" as Korean alternatives for "aquaponics" and "brain fog," respectively.

"Small license" refers to a system that subdivides administrative licensing units to simplify the approval process for specific tasks. It is widely used in the financial sector, such as banking, insurance, and securities, where licensing requirements are particularly stringent. The selection of the alternative term "small-scale permit" was informed by a survey. In a public acceptance survey of about 600 people, 95.5% of respondents said the term was appropriate.

"Aquaponics" is an eco-friendly farming method that uses fish. Organic matter and waste produced by the fish serve as nutrients for crops. "Brain fog" describes a state in which one's mind feels unclear, leading to reduced concentration and difficulty in thinking and expressing oneself clearly. The Ministry and the Institute decided on "fish farming method" and "clouded mind" as the respective alternatives during a neologism meeting held from September 25 to 27.

The neologism meeting is a committee that provides easy-to-understand Korean alternatives for difficult foreign neologisms before they become widespread. Experts from various fields, including Korean language, foreign languages, education, public relations and publishing, information and communications, and media, participate in the committee. The Ministry and the Institute plan to continue promoting the use of these alternatives so that government agencies and media organizations take the lead in adopting them.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.