Kwarosa, Gapjil, Jeonse... The Globalization of 'K-Words'

Korean Words Adopted by Foreign Media
When Unique Korean Features Defy Translation
Chaebol, Banjiha, and More

Australian media has drawn attention from Korean outlets by highlighting Korea's 69-hour workweek policy and using the term 'kwarosa' to refer to death from overwork.

When referring to phenomena or cultures unique to Korea, foreign media often choose to use the original Korean term as a proper noun, rather than translating it.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Korea’s 'Chaebol' and 'Gapjil'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Among these terms, 'Chaebol' has the longest history. It is said that 'Chaebol' first appeared in foreign media in 1972.

It is now included as a headword in the Oxford Dictionary. The word 'conglomerate' does not fully capture the nuance of 'Chaebol', which is used to describe Korea’s unique corporate ownership structure. Foreign media have cited characteristics such as hereditary management and collusion between business and politics as defining features of chaebols.

'Gapjil' emerged as a term during the 2014 Korean Air 'nut rage' incident.

At the time, the incident could not be fully explained by phrases like 'workplace harassment' or 'overuse one's power.' To convey both the meaning of 'abusing one's power to harass others' and the demeaning nuance of such behavior, the term 'Gapjil' was used as is.

"The Cause of This Election Result Is 'Naeronambul'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Foreign media reported on the ruling party's crushing defeat in the April 7, 2021 by-elections, citing 'Naeronambul' as a reason.

'Naeronambul' means "it's romance when I do it, but adultery when others do." In their election analysis, foreign media explained that the ruling party's defeat was due to the hypocrisy of progressive figures, introducing the term 'Naeronambul' in the process.

Some interpreted this as an attempt to go beyond the idea of 'double standards' and to introduce a term that reveals the true face of Korean politics.

"Boss, Is There No 'Jeonse' for 'Banjiha'?"

[Photo by Yonhap News]

The torrential rains that hit downtown Seoul in 2022 served as a catalyst for the global spread of the term 'Banjiha.'

Foreign media reported that "many deaths occurred in 'Banjiha' homes due to heavy rains," and explained that many Banjiha residents in Seoul belong to low-income groups. They also noted that Banjiha housing was featured in the film 'Parasite.'

While some outlets described Banjiha as 'semi-basement,' recognizing that this type of housing is common in Korea, many media outlets chose to use the term 'Banjiha.'

Korea's unique housing rental system, Jeonse, has also attracted attention. Unlike other countries where housing is typically rented on a monthly basis, Korea has the Jeonse system, which foreign media refer to as 'Jeonse.'

Foreign outlets introduced Jeonse as "an unusual system where tenants pay a deposit equivalent to about 70% of the property’s value, live rent-free for two years, and receive the full deposit back at the end of the contract." When the Jeonse system was first introduced abroad, some were amazed, saying it was like "borrowing a house for free."

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