[[WORK IN PROGRESS]]
[[SORRY STILL MESSY]]
A glossary of terms commonly found in Korean web novels.
I’m someone who is more comfortable using some original terms than completely translating them. Some novels also use terms with no equivalent in English, adding another reason for the need of this glossary.
Accepting suggestions or references for this.
Mostly sorted by alphabet. Use your browser’s search function to maximize utilizing this.
Contents
Novel Genre Tags
Terms of Address
nim (님) – The highest form of honorifics and above ssi. Can be used alone to refer or call someone, but usually used by those in internet forum because username is usually pretty nonsense.
ssi (씨) – The most commonly used honorific used amongst people of approximately equal speech level.
gun (군) – Used to address young boys by an adult. Similar to ‘-kun’ in Japanese.
yang (양) – Used to address young girls by an adult.
Seonbae (선배) – Senior.
Hubae (후배) – Junior.
Idol and Fandom
BGP (비개퍼 bi.ge.per) – An abbreviation for Business Gay Performance. Rooted from the shipping culture of ‘some’ fans. This is a deliberate act of doing skin ship or affectionate action to another member of the same group that can induce the imagination of those fans for the purpose of increasing business.
Bias (최애 choi.ae) – The most favorite member in the group.
Bias Wrecker (초애 cho.ae) – Not a really direct translation, but the most close one. The English meaning is the member who make you rethink again who is your bias. The Korean meaning is the second most favorite member in the group.
Bromide – A smaller version of poster on a thicker paper.
Comeback – When groups or singers coming out with new music activity.
Coordi (코디) – A short of ‘coordinator’. People who coordinate the costume of the artists. Sometimes overlapped the job desk with stylist and make-up artist, but on the lighter side like retouching faded make up.
Debut (데뷔) –
Debut Group (데뷔조) – The trainee group that is prepared or expected to debut. Not always the final formation, as the company’s plan may change. Can also mean the most highest ranked group between trainees.
Deokjil (덕질) – Stanning.
- Ibdeok (입덕) – Start to stan.
- Taldeok (탈덕) – Unstan.
Fanchant – Those systematic chants shouted at specific songs.
Froaches (wi.kwi) – Foreigner fans cockroaches. A nickname to call international fans with no culture. E.g. bombarding the comment with ‘eng plz’, putting up phones on concert that it’ll cover your face(it’s not really polite), asking for dropped members to get back together, etc. Probably will make a completely new post for this because what I found in Korean wiki listed so many things.
Homma (홈마) – An abbreviation for Homepage Master. International fans use the term Fansite Master. The fans who went all out doing their fans activities by taking pictures and videos of their bias.
Idol (아이돌) – It is a job. To be adored and mostly become a symbol of hope. Often not recognized as an artist. Okay, I won’t say much or it will become a philosophy lecture.
Leader (리더) – The team leader of the group. Usually the oldest in the group, but recently it’s not. Acting as the representative in public activities and a bridge between the members and company.
Lead Vocal/Dancer/Rapper – The second in charge of vocal/dance/rap.
Lightstick (응원봉 eung.won bong) – Those fancy glow sticks. The Korean term is actually mean ‘cheering stick’, as we use it to cheer the artists.
Main Vocal/Dancer/Rapper – The main or first in charge of vocal/dance/rap.
Maknae (막내)- The youngest of the group.
Mangdol (망돌) – An abbreviation of 망한 아이돌(mang.han idol) meaning failed idol. Sometimes also used for rookie groups that seemingly have no hope.
Muggle ()- A nickname to call general public who don’t know much about idols. Yeah, it’s from Harry Potter.
Music Show (음악 방송 eum.ak bang.song)- TV program where singers show their stage and get ranked.
Official Fan Cafe (공식 카페 gong.sik ka.fe) – Official community or forum site where fans gather together.
Sasaeng (사생)- Overly obsessive fan who stalks or engages in other behavior constituting an invasion of the privacy of celebrities. The word itself means ‘daily life’, so it can be called sasaeng fans or ‘daily life fans’. But as the hate went up, most people don’t want to include them as fans.
Shop (샵)- Referring to Hair and Make-up Shop. Most celebrities don’t have dedicated stylists or make-up artists from the company, so they come to ‘shop’ to have full make-up and hair styled. It’s common to meet other artists in the shop. And you can know all kinds of rumors here either from the employee’s gossiping or witnessing itself.
SNS (Social Networking System) – In English it’s called Social Media.
Sub Vocal/Dancer/Rapper – The third in charge of vocal/dance/rap. Rarely used, especially if the number of members are small.
Survival Audition Program –
Trainee (연습생 yeon.seub.saeng) – Probably you know what it is. Contracted trainees will get resources from the agency like lessons and even some pocket money(depends on the agency).
Visual – The member who is the most handsome or pretty in the group.
Mini Album –
Full Album –
Single –
Entertainment
AD –
Crank In/Out – It’s an English term that exclusively used by Korean. Crank in means the start of filming, while crank out the end of filming. Mostly used in movie industry.
Director – Movie director. Rarely used in the TV industry. Drama director is called PD.
FD –
OTT (Over The Top) – Streaming service platforms like Netflix, KakaoTV, Disney+, etc. The existence of OTT is quite a threat to Korean’s TV broadcasting system. So that is why many new dramas currently uploaded in Netflix while also aired on TV.
PD (Production Director) –
Rice Soup Actor/Actress – A nickname for actor/actress who often failed and then referred as the reason who ruins works(dramas or movies) they starred in. Why rice soup? If you just pour soup to rice it will ruin the meal because it become soggy and tasteless. Tho, many ‘actual’ rice soups are delicious!
Reality Show –
(Script) Reading – An activity before filming by reading script to match the sum between actors also some feedbacks by director and/or writer. Director and/or writer can also make changes in the script or filming looking from the reading. E.g. The chemistry between two characters is unexpectedly good, the writer might add new scenes showing both characters.
Variety Show –
Writer –
Internet Slang
ㄹㅇ – A simplified form of 리얼. Real. Really. Indeed.
ㅈㄴ – A simplified form of 존나. F*ck or f*cking. Usually used to exaggerate things.
ㅋㅋ – Laughing. Similar in use to ‘lol’