Vocab Glossary
Every Korean word we've taught across all posts, collected in one place.
0 words marked as known
- 아아 a-a — short for 아이스 아메리카노 (iced americano), Korea's default coffee order in every season
From: Kkosup Latte: Why Korea Is Suddenly Obsessed With Thick, Nutty Milk Coffee
- 앰플 aempul — ampoule — a concentrated treatment serum, usually used short-term for a specific concern rather than daily
- 아울렛 aullet — outlet — as in outlet store, from the English word
From: Off Beauty: Inside Korea's Discount K-Beauty Outlet Chain
- 배 bae — Korean pear — large, round, and crisp, closer to an apple in texture than a Western pear
From: What to Eat in Korea During Autumn: Seasonal Foods to Try , Korean Gift-Giving Culture: What to Give, When & What to Avoid , Why Autumn Is One of the Best Times to Visit South Korea
- 발색 balsaek — color payoff — how vividly a color shows once applied
- 반찬 banchan — the free side dishes served with almost every Korean meal, refilled on request
From: Korean Restaurant Phrases You Actually Need (Ordering, Refills, the Bill)
- 버블티 beobeulti — bubble tea — part of the early-2010s wave that kicked off Korea's café-hopping culture
From: South Korea's Food Trend Time Machine: A Decade of Going Viral, One Bite at a Time
- 번데기 beondegi — silkworm pupae, sold boiled or steamed as a Korean street snack
From: A Taste of Korea: Beloved Favorites and Hidden Gems Worth Discovering
- 버스 beoseu — bus
- 브이아이피 beu-i-ai-pi — V.I.P. — BIGBANG's official fandom name, spelled out phonetically in Hangul
From: Twenty Years, One Sky: BIGBANG Lights Up the Han River for Their 20th Anniversary
- 빙수 bingsu — Korean shaved ice dessert, often made with a creamy milk-based ice
From: A Taste of Korea: Beloved Favorites and Hidden Gems Worth Discovering , Ikseon-dong: Seoul's Hanok Alley of Cafes, Boutiques, and Perfume
- 봉투 bongtu — an envelope — specifically the cash-filled envelope given at weddings, funerals, and other occasions
From: Korean Gift-Giving Culture: What to Give, When & What to Avoid
- 보송보송 bosongbosong — soft, smooth, and non-shiny — often used to describe a powder-set finish
From: Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen — Full Review
- 붉은팥 bulgeunpat — red bean — the source of this serum's PDRN™ ingredient
From: Beauty of Joseon Pore Firming Red Bean PDRN™ Serum — Full Review
- 분식 bunsik — casual Korean street/snack food — tteokbokki, kimbap, ramyun, and the like
From: 신라면 분식 더 팩토리: We Visited Shin Ramyun's 40th Anniversary Pop-Up in Seongsu
- 벽화 byeokhwa — mural — the village is covered in them, no two alleys look the same
From: Gamcheon Culture Village: Busan's Colorful Hillside Maze
- 병풀 byeongpul — centella asiatica ("tiger grass") — the soothing, barrier-repairing herb this entire product line is built around
- 창백한 피카츄 changbaekhan pikachu — Pale Pikachu, the washed-out, cream-colored Pikachu from Pokopia. Fans shorten it to 창백카츄 (changbaekchu)
From: Pokémon Pokopia's First Concept Store Closes in Seongsu This Week
- 차례 charye — the ancestral memorial rite families hold on Chuseok morning, with food laid out on a table for deceased relatives
From: Visiting Korea During Chuseok 2026: What Travelers Need to Know
- 체험 chehom — hands-on experience — the word behind most of these beauty festivals' experiential booths and demos
From: K-Beauty Tourism Is Officially Booming — Here's What the Numbers Say
- 치킨 chikin — Korean-style fried chicken
From: A Taste of Korea: Beloved Favorites and Hidden Gems Worth Discovering
- 치마 chima — the skirt worn with a jeogori in a traditional women's hanbok
From: Hanbok Rental in Seoul: A Practical Guide (Plus Free Palace Entry)
- 촉촉함 chokchokham — dewiness, moisture
- 충전 chungjeon — to recharge/top up — what you're doing at every subway top-up machine
From: T-money Card vs. Climate Card: Which Seoul Transit Card Do You Actually Need?
- 추석 Chuseok — Korea's autumn harvest holiday, dated by the lunar calendar — affects domestic travel and some business hours
From: Korea in Autumn: September vs October vs November — When Should You Go? , Korean Gift-Giving Culture: What to Give, When & What to Avoid , Pokémon Just Turned SPAM Into a Chuseok Collectible , Visiting Korea During Chuseok 2026: What Travelers Need to Know
- 대여 daeyeo — rental — the word you'll see on hanbok shop signage (한복 대여, "hanbok rental")
From: Hanbok Rental in Seoul: A Practical Guide (Plus Free Palace Entry)
- 닭강정 dakgangjeong — sweet, crispy fried chicken bites, popular alongside the early bubble tea boom
From: South Korea's Food Trend Time Machine: A Decade of Going Viral, One Bite at a Time
- 달고나커피 dalgona keopi — dalgona coffee — instant coffee whipped with sugar and water into a cloud-like foam
From: South Korea's Food Trend Time Machine: A Decade of Going Viral, One Bite at a Time
- 단풍 danpung — autumn leaves, or the phenomenon of foliage changing colour — also used for the leaves themselves
From: Korea in Autumn: September vs October vs November — When Should You Go? , Korea Fall Foliage 2026: When & Where to See Autumn Leaves
- 데이터 deiteo — data — as in mobile data, what your eSIM gets you
- 등산 deungsan — hiking/mountain climbing — what draws people up Geumjeongsan on a longer Busan trip
From: Busan vs. Seoul: Which Trip Fits You? , Korea Fall Foliage 2026: When & Where to See Autumn Leaves
- 도장 dojang — stamp/seal — what you're hunting for during the stamp rally
From: Gamcheon Culture Village: Busan's Colorful Hillside Maze
- 도심공항터미널 dosim gonghang teomineol — city airport terminal, the check-in hall at Seoul Station where AREX express trains depart
From: Your Airport Train Into Seoul Is a Pokémon Train Right Now
- 두쫀쿠 dujjonku — a chewy Korean cookie riff on Dubai chocolate's pistachio-cream flavor
From: South Korea's Food Trend Time Machine: A Decade of Going Viral, One Bite at a Time
- 두피 dupi — scalp — the target of the brush's cushioned base, which Medicube specifically markets as reducing scalp irritation
From: Jang Wonyoung's Cherry Hair Brush Is Everywhere — Is It Actually Worth It? , LABO·H Scalp Strengthening Roll-On Serum — First Impressions Review
- 돼지국밥 dwaeji gukbap — milky pork bone broth with rice — Busan's default comfort meal, especially around Seomyeon
- 얼마예요 eolmayeyo — "how much is it?" — the single most useful phrase on this list
From: Korean Shopping Phrases You Actually Need (Online or In-Store)
- 엉킴 eongkim — tangle, tangling — what the brush's longest bristle layer is built to work through first
From: Jang Wonyoung's Cherry Hair Brush Is Everywhere — Is It Actually Worth It?
- 어린왕자 eorin wangja — The Little Prince — the Saint-Exupéry book the village's most iconic statue is based on
From: Gamcheon Culture Village: Busan's Colorful Hillside Maze
- 에센스 esenseu — essence — lighter than a serum, sits between toner and serum, boosts hydration and helps the rest of your routine absorb
- 은행나무 eunhaengnamu — ginkgo tree — the source of Korea's golden (rather than red) autumn colour
From: Korea Fall Foliage 2026: When & Where to See Autumn Leaves
- 가을 ga-eul — autumn/fall — the season this whole series is about
From: Korea in Autumn: September vs October vs November — When Should You Go?
- 각질 gakjil — dead skin cells — what gentle exfoliating toner pads are lifting away
- 감 gam — persimmon — the umbrella word for the fruit in any form, fresh or dried
From: What to Eat in Korea During Autumn: Seasonal Foods to Try , Why Autumn Is One of the Best Times to Visit South Korea
- 감천문화마을 Gamcheon Munhwa Maeul — Gamcheon Culture Village — the official name, and what's painted on the blue rooftop sign at the entrance
From: Gamcheon Culture Village: Busan's Colorful Hillside Maze
- 감자탕 gamjatang — a spicy Korean soup made with pork backbone or neck bones, potatoes and greens
From: A Taste of Korea: Beloved Favorites and Hidden Gems Worth Discovering
- 간장게장 ganjang-gejang — raw crab marinated in soy sauce
From: A Taste of Korea: Beloved Favorites and Hidden Gems Worth Discovering
- 기후동행카드 gihu donghaeng kadeu — Climate Card — literally "climate accompanying card"
From: T-money Card vs. Climate Card: Which Seoul Transit Card Do You Actually Need?
- 길찾기 gilchatgi — wayfinding / directions — literally "finding the way"
- 김밥 gimbap — rice and fillings rolled in seaweed
From: A Taste of Korea: Beloved Favorites and Hidden Gems Worth Discovering
- 기능성 화장품 gineungseong hwajangpum — functional cosmetic — a Korean regulatory label for products with approved functional claims
From: Beauty of Joseon Pore Firming Red Bean PDRN™ Serum — Full Review , Centellian24 Madeca Cream Tight Lifting — Full Review
- 골목 golmok — alley — Ikseon-dong is really a maze of these, most too narrow for more than a couple people side by side
From: Ikseon-dong: Seoul's Hanok Alley of Cafes, Boutiques, and Perfume
- 공항 gonghang — airport
From: The Incheon Airport Limousine Bus Is Seoul's Most Underrated Way In , Korea Entry Paperwork: e-Arrival Card, K-ETA, and Avoiding Scam Sites , Tax-Free Shopping in Korea: Why Olive Young Feels Instant and SPAO Sends You to the Airport
- 공항철도 gonghang cheoldo — Airport Railroad (AREX): the train line linking Incheon Airport to Seoul Station. 공항 means airport, 철도 means railroad
From: Your Airport Train Into Seoul Is a Pokémon Train Right Now
- 공휴일 gonghyuil — public holiday — the day off banks, government offices, and most schools close for
From: Hangul Day: Celebrating the Alphabet Made for Everyone
- 고풍 gopung — an antique or old-fashioned elegance — the aesthetic theme of this pop-up, styled after a traditional Korean street
From: Pokémon's Antique Shop Pop-Up Just Revealed Its Second Merch Drop
- 고름 goreum — the long ribbon tie that closes a jeogori across the chest — rental shop staff will usually tie it for you
From: Hanbok Rental in Seoul: A Practical Guide (Plus Free Palace Entry)
- 고소하다 gosohada — the standard word for the nutty, roasty richness of sesame oil, toasted grains, peanuts, or full-fat milk
From: Kkosup Latte: Why Korea Is Suddenly Obsessed With Thick, Nutty Milk Coffee
- 고속열차 gosok yeolcha — bullet train — the formal term for the KTX, the high-speed line connecting Seoul and Busan
- 곶감 gotgam — dried persimmon — firmer, chewier, and much sweeter than the fresh fruit
From: What to Eat in Korea During Autumn: Seasonal Foods to Try
- 굿즈 gudeu — "goods" — Konglish for branded merch like keyrings, pouches, and stickers bundled with a collab
From: Olive Young × Sanrio 'City Log': Inside K-Beauty's Biggest Character Collab Yet , Pokémon's Antique Shop Pop-Up Just Revealed Its Second Merch Drop , 포켓몬 무릉도원: Pokémon's 30th-Anniversary Pop-Up Opens in Jamsil Today , Pokémon Just Turned SPAM Into a Chuseok Collectible
- 군고구마 gun-goguma — roasted sweet potato — sold from drum-can street carts as soon as the weather turns cold
From: What to Eat in Korea During Autumn: Seasonal Foods to Try , Why Autumn Is One of the Best Times to Visit South Korea
- 군밤 gunbam — roasted chestnuts, often sold from the same cart as gun-goguma
From: What to Eat in Korea During Autumn: Seasonal Foods to Try , Why Autumn Is One of the Best Times to Visit South Korea
- 궁궐 gunggwol — palace — the formal term for royal palaces like Gyeongbokgung, one of Seoul's Five Grand Palaces
- 국립공원 gungnip gongwon — national park — several of Korea's best foliage destinations, including Seoraksan and Naejangsan, are national parks
From: Korea Fall Foliage 2026: When & Where to See Autumn Leaves
- 관광 gwangwang — tourism — as in 뷰티 관광 (beauty tourism), the term Korean media uses for exactly this trend
From: K-Beauty Tourism Is Officially Booming — Here's What the Numbers Say
- 귀성길 gwiseong-gil — the mass migration home for the holiday — literally 'the road home' — when tens of millions travel to their hometowns at once
From: Visiting Korea During Chuseok 2026: What Travelers Need to Know
- 계단 gyedan — stairs — the whole village is built on a hillside, so expect a lot of these
From: Gamcheon Culture Village: Busan's Colorful Hillside Maze
- 계산 gyesan — payment, checkout (literally "to calculate/settle") — asking for the bill
From: Korean Restaurant Phrases You Actually Need (Ordering, Refills, the Bill) , Korean Shopping Phrases You Actually Need (Online or In-Store)
- 교통카드 gyotong kadeu — transit card — the general term covering T-money, the Climate Card, and similar
From: T-money Card vs. Climate Card: Which Seoul Transit Card Do You Actually Need?
- 해변 haebyeon — beach — the general word, as opposed to Haeundae or Gwangalli, which are specific beaches
- 해운대 Haeundae — Busan's most famous beach, backed by a full beach town of hotels, restaurants, and bars
- 한강 Han-gang — the Han River — Seoul's major river and the site of BIGBANG's anniversary celebration
From: Twenty Years, One Sky: BIGBANG Lights Up the Han River for Their 20th Anniversary
- 한복 hanbok — traditional Korean dress — the flowing, colorful clothing seen at palaces and weddings, now also on Pikachu
From: Hanbok Pikachu Is Coming to Seoul: Inside the Pokémon Autumn Pop-Up , Hanbok Rental in Seoul: A Practical Guide (Plus Free Palace Entry) , Pokémon's Antique Shop Pop-Up Just Revealed Its Second Merch Drop
- 한글날 hangeulnal — Hangul Day — October 9, the national holiday celebrating the Korean alphabet (날 means "day")
From: Hangul Day: Celebrating the Alphabet Made for Everyone
- 한정판 hanjeongpan — limited edition
From: innisfree × Disney·Pixar Toy Story 5: Sun Serum & No-Sebum Powder, Tried and Decoded , Olive Young × Sanrio 'City Log': Inside K-Beauty's Biggest Character Collab Yet , 신라면 분식 더 팩토리: We Visited Shin Ramyun's 40th Anniversary Pop-Up in Seongsu
- 한옥 hanok — traditional Korean house — the style that gives Bukchon Hanok Village its name
From: First-Timer's Seoul Itinerary: 4 Days, No Wasted Time , Ikseon-dong: Seoul's Hanok Alley of Cafes, Boutiques, and Perfume
- 할인 harin — discount
From: Korean Shopping Phrases You Actually Need (Online or In-Store)
- 핫플 hatpeul — short for 핫플레이스 ("hot place") — Konglish slang for a trending, must-visit spot
From: Hanbok Pikachu Is Coming to Seoul: Inside the Pokémon Autumn Pop-Up
- 흡수 heupsu — absorption — how quickly a product sinks into the skin
From: Beauty of Joseon Pore Firming Red Bean PDRN™ Serum — Full Review , innisfree × Disney·Pixar Toy Story 5: Sun Serum & No-Sebum Powder, Tried and Decoded
- 호두과자 hodu-gwaja — small walnut-shaped cakes, commonly filled with sweet red bean paste and walnut pieces
From: A Taste of Korea: Beloved Favorites and Hidden Gems Worth Discovering
- 홍삼 hongsam — red ginseng — a premium health gift, especially for parents and older relatives
From: Korean Gift-Giving Culture: What to Give, When & What to Avoid
- 홍시 hongsi — a fully ripened, soft persimmon, eaten with a spoon like custard
From: What to Eat in Korea During Autumn: Seasonal Foods to Try
- 호떡 hotteok — a filled, pan-fried Korean pancake, usually sweet, sold hot off the griddle
From: What to Eat in Korea During Autumn: Seasonal Foods to Try
- 훈민정음 hunminjeongeum — "the correct sounds for teaching the people" — the original name of the alphabet, and the title of the 1446 document that announced it
From: Hangul Day: Celebrating the Alphabet Made for Everyone
- 환급 hwan-geup — refund — the money you get back for the tax you paid
From: Tax-Free Shopping in Korea: Why Olive Young Feels Instant and SPAO Sends You to the Airport
- 환절기 hwanjeolgi — the changeover between seasons — often used to talk about catching a cold as the weather turns
From: Korea in Autumn: September vs October vs November — When Should You Go?
- 환승 hwanseung — transfer — switching between bus/subway without paying a second full fare
From: Getting Around Seoul: A Quick, No-Fuss Guide , T-money Card vs. Climate Card: Which Seoul Transit Card Do You Actually Need?
- 향수 hyangsu — perfume
From: Ikseon-dong: Seoul's Hanok Alley of Cafes, Boutiques, and Perfume
- 현장 대기 hyeonjang daegi — on-site waiting: the walk-up queue, as opposed to 사전 예약 (sajeon yeyak), booking ahead
From: Pokémon Pokopia's First Concept Store Closes in Seongsu This Week
- 이브이 ibeui — Eevee's Korean name
From: Pokémon's Antique Shop Pop-Up Just Revealed Its Second Merch Drop
- 이치방쿠지 ichiban kuji — a Japanese-style random-draw lottery where every ticket wins something, popular at Korean pop-ups too
From: 포켓몬 무릉도원: Pokémon's 30th-Anniversary Pop-Up Opens in Jamsil Today
- 이중세안 ijung sean — double cleanse — the oil-cleanser-then-water-cleanser method that opens almost every K-beauty routine
- 잉어킹 ing-eo-king — Magikarp's Korean name — 잉어 (ing-eo) means carp, the fish it's based on
From: 포켓몬 무릉도원: Pokémon's 30th-Anniversary Pop-Up Opens in Jamsil Today
- 인생템 inseongtem — "life item" — Konglish-Korean slang for a product so good you'd repurchase it for life, a personal holy grail
- 입국 ipguk — entry — as in entering the country, the thing both of these forms are for
From: Korea Entry Paperwork: e-Arrival Card, K-ETA, and Avoiding Scam Sites
- 재래시장 jaerae sijang — traditional market — an older-style market like Mangwon, as opposed to a modern mall
- 자음 jaeum — consonant — Hangul has 14 basic ones, shaped after the mouth and throat positions used to say them
From: Hangul Day: Celebrating the Alphabet Made for Everyone
- 자갈치시장 Jagalchi Sijang — Jagalchi Market — Korea's largest seafood market, right on the Busan harbor
- 자극 jageuk — irritation, stimulus — the root of "무자극," a very common Korean label claim meaning "non-irritating"
- 자외선 차단제 jawoeseon chadanje — sunscreen or UV-blocking product
From: Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen — Full Review , innisfree × Disney·Pixar Toy Story 5: Sun Serum & No-Sebum Powder, Tried and Decoded
- 저기요 jeogiyo — "excuse me!" — how you call a server over in Korea, since they don't check on your table unprompted
From: Korean Restaurant Phrases You Actually Need (Ordering, Refills, the Bill)
- 저고리 jeogori — the fitted jacket top of a hanbok, closed with a ribbon tie rather than buttons
From: Hanbok Rental in Seoul: A Practical Guide (Plus Free Palace Entry)
- 저자극 jeojageuk — low irritation / gentle — similar to "hypoallergenic," often paired with sensitive-skin lines
- 전어 jeoneo — gizzard shad, a small oily fish tied to a well-known Korean saying about its autumn smell
From: What to Eat in Korea During Autumn: Seasonal Foods to Try
- 정 jeong — a hard-to-translate sense of warmth and attachment built through small acts like sharing food or gifts
From: Korean Gift-Giving Culture: What to Give, When & What to Avoid
- 정류장 jeongnyujang — stop — as in bus stop
From: The Incheon Airport Limousine Bus Is Seoul's Most Underrated Way In
- 전망대 jeonmangdae — observation point/viewpoint — the spots everyone climbs the hill for
From: Gamcheon Culture Village: Busan's Colorful Hillside Maze
- 즉시환급 jeuksi hwan-geup — immediate refund — tax deducted on the spot at checkout
From: Tax-Free Shopping in Korea: Why Olive Young Feels Instant and SPAO Sends You to the Airport
- 지도 jido — map
- 지하철 jihacheol — subway
- 직통열차 jiktong yeolcha — express (direct) train: AREX's nonstop airport-to-Seoul Station service, the one wearing the Pokémon wrap
From: Your Airport Train Into Seoul Is a Pokémon Train Right Now
- 짐 jim — luggage, baggage
From: The Incheon Airport Limousine Bus Is Seoul's Most Underrated Way In
- 진단 jindan — diagnosis — as in "퍼스널 컬러 진단," a personal color session, since the analysis is treated like a diagnostic reading
From: Personal Color Analysis in Seoul: What It Is, What It Costs, Where to Book in English
- 진정 jinjeong — soothing / calming — signals a gentle, redness-calming formula, often centella or aloe based
- 집들이 jipdeuri — a housewarming gathering, traditionally marked by bringing a practical household gift
From: Korean Gift-Giving Culture: What to Give, When & What to Avoid
- 지속력 jisokryeok — lasting power, longevity
- 쫀드기 jjondeugi — a chewy Korean corn snack, often toasted or fried and seasoned
From: A Taste of Korea: Beloved Favorites and Hidden Gems Worth Discovering
- 주문 jumun — order — used in "주문할게요" (jumunhalgeyo), "I'd like to order"
From: Korean Restaurant Phrases You Actually Need (Ordering, Refills, the Bill)
- 좌석 jwaseok — seat
From: The Incheon Airport Limousine Bus Is Seoul's Most Underrated Way In
- 카카오톡 선물하기 kakaotok seonmulhagi — KakaoTalk Gift — the messaging app's built-in service for sending anything from coffee to cosmetics to a contact
From: Korean Gift-Giving Culture: What to Give, When & What to Avoid
- 칼국수 kalguksu — Korean knife-cut wheat noodles served in a warm broth
From: A Taste of Korea: Beloved Favorites and Hidden Gems Worth Discovering
- 카페 kape — café; commonly used for coffee shops in Korea
From: A Taste of Korea: Beloved Favorites and Hidden Gems Worth Discovering
- 크로플 keuropeul — croffle — a croissant pressed and cooked like a waffle
From: South Korea's Food Trend Time Machine: A Decade of Going Viral, One Bite at a Time
- 꼬숩다 kkosupda — a cuter, dialect-flavored way of saying 고소하다: nutty, toasty, rich. Kkosup latte (꼬숩라떼) takes its name from it
From: Kkosup Latte: Why Korea Is Suddenly Obsessed With Thick, Nutty Milk Coffee
- 꽃게 kkotge — blue crab — female crabs are especially prized in autumn for their roe
From: What to Eat in Korea During Autumn: Seasonal Foods to Try
- 콜라보 kollabo — collab/collaboration — the Konglish loanword you'll see on every limited-edition drop
From: innisfree × Disney·Pixar Toy Story 5: Sun Serum & No-Sebum Powder, Tried and Decoded , Olive Young × Sanrio 'City Log': Inside K-Beauty's Biggest Character Collab Yet
- 쿨톤 kulton — cool tone — a pink/blue undertone (Summer or Winter types)
From: Personal Color Analysis in Seoul: What It Is, What It Costs, Where to Book in English
- 매표소 maepyoso — ticket booth or kiosk
From: The Incheon Airport Limousine Bus Is Seoul's Most Underrated Way In
- 마이크로바이옴 maikeurobaiom — microbiome — the balance of bacteria on the scalp that probiotic haircare aims to support
From: LABO·H Scalp Strengthening Roll-On Serum — First Impressions Review
- 마라탕 malatang — mala tang — a tongue-numbing Sichuan hot pot-style soup that took over group dinners in 2019
From: South Korea's Food Trend Time Machine: A Decade of Going Viral, One Bite at a Time
- 메타몽 metamong — Ditto's Korean name. In Pokopia, you play as a Ditto that has transformed into a human
From: Pokémon Pokopia's First Concept Store Closes in Seongsu This Week
- 미백 mibaek — brightening — despite the literal translation leaning toward "whitening," in modern K-beauty marketing this means evening tone, not skin lightening
- 밀착력 milchakryeok — how well a product adheres to and stays on the skin
From: Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen — Full Review , fwee Rose Obsession Stay-Fit Lip Tint — Full Review
- 민화 minhwa — traditional Korean folk painting — nature motifs like pine trees, the moon, and lotus flowers, the exact look this event is built around
From: Hanbok Pikachu Is Coming to Seoul: Inside the Pokémon Autumn Pop-Up
- 모음 moeum — vowel — Hangul has 10 basic ones, built from a dot, a horizontal line, and a vertical line
From: Hangul Day: Celebrating the Alphabet Made for Everyone
- 모공 mogong — pores — a common skincare concern and the focus of this serum's name
From: Beauty of Joseon Pore Firming Red Bean PDRN™ Serum — Full Review
- 무기자차 mugi jacha — mineral sunscreen — shorthand for a formula using mineral UV filters
From: Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen — Full Review
- 무제한 mujehan — unlimited
From: T-money Card vs. Climate Card: Which Seoul Transit Card Do You Actually Need?
- 무릉도원 Muleungdowon — a legendary peach-blossom paradise from Korean folklore — the "utopia" theme behind this pop-up's name and cloud/blossom decor
From: 포켓몬 무릉도원: Pokémon's 30th-Anniversary Pop-Up Opens in Jamsil Today
- 물광 피부 mulgwang pibu — "water-light skin" — the actual Korean phrase behind what's marketed abroad as "glass skin"
- 무료 muryo — free — as in no cost, like the e-Arrival Card itself
From: Korea Entry Paperwork: e-Arrival Card, K-ETA, and Avoiding Scam Sites , 신라면 분식 더 팩토리: We Visited Shin Ramyun's 40th Anniversary Pop-Up in Seongsu
- 명랑핫도그 myeongnang hatdogeu — Myeongrang Hotdog — the sugar-dusted corn dog chain behind the 2017 street food craze
From: South Korea's Food Trend Time Machine: A Decade of Going Viral, One Bite at a Time
- 면세 myeonse — tax-free — as in "면세되나요?" (myeonse doenayo?), "is this tax-free?"
From: Tax-Free Shopping in Korea: Why Olive Young Feels Instant and SPAO Sends You to the Airport
- 나들이 nadeuri — an outing or short leisure trip — literally "going out and coming back"
From: Hanbok Pikachu Is Coming to Seoul: Inside the Pokémon Autumn Pop-Up
- 5대 궁궐 odae gunggwol — the "five grand palaces" of Seoul — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, and Gyeonghuigung — all free to enter while wearing a qualifying hanbok
From: Hanbok Rental in Seoul: A Practical Guide (Plus Free Palace Entry)
- 오프뷰티 opeu byuti — Off Beauty — Korea's discount beauty outlet chain
From: Off Beauty: Inside Korea's Discount K-Beauty Outlet Chain
- 팝업스토어 papeop seutoeo — pop-up store — a temporary retail/event space, hugely popular in Seoul for limited-time brand collabs
From: Hanbok Pikachu Is Coming to Seoul: Inside the Pokémon Autumn Pop-Up , 신라면 분식 더 팩토리: We Visited Shin Ramyun's 40th Anniversary Pop-Up in Seongsu
- 퍼스널 컬러 peoseoneol keolleo — personal color — the whole practice of matching clothes and makeup to your natural undertone
From: Personal Color Analysis in Seoul: What It Is, What It Costs, Where to Book in English
- 피부장벽 pibu jangbyeok — skin barrier — the protective layer that barrier-focused ingredients like ceramide, centella, and madecassoside are built to protect
- 피지 piji — sebum, skin oil
From: innisfree × Disney·Pixar Toy Story 5: Sun Serum & No-Sebum Powder, Tried and Decoded
- 포장 pojang — packaging, wrapping — in a restaurant, this means "to go" rather than "gift-wrapped"
From: Korean Restaurant Phrases You Actually Need (Ordering, Refills, the Bill) , Korean Shopping Phrases You Actually Need (Online or In-Store)
- 포켓몬빵 poketmon ppang — Pokémon bread — the bread almost nobody actually ate, bought for the sticker inside
From: South Korea's Food Trend Time Machine: A Decade of Going Viral, One Bite at a Time
- 품절 pumjeol — sold out
From: Korean Shopping Phrases You Actually Need (Online or In-Store) , Olive Young × Sanrio 'City Log': Inside K-Beauty's Biggest Character Collab Yet
- 평일 pyeongil — weekday — go on one of these if you want the alleys without the crowds
From: Ikseon-dong: Seoul's Hanok Alley of Cafes, Boutiques, and Perfume
- 편의점 pyeonuijeom — convenience store — GS25, 7-Eleven, CU, and the like
From: T-money Card vs. Climate Card: Which Seoul Transit Card Do You Actually Need?
- 리무진 버스 rimujin beoseu — limousine bus — the airport-to-city coach service, not an actual limousine
From: The Incheon Airport Limousine Bus Is Seoul's Most Underrated Way In
- 립틴트 rip-tinteu — lip tint
- 리필 ripil — refill — used for banchan, water, and sometimes rice
From: Korean Restaurant Phrases You Actually Need (Ordering, Refills, the Bill)
- 리프팅 ripting — lifting
- 리셀 risel — resell — Konglish for scalping/reselling limited items above retail price
- 로제떡볶이 roje tteokbokki — rosé tteokbokki — the usual spicy-sweet rice cakes, mellowed out with cream
From: South Korea's Food Trend Time Machine: A Decade of Going Viral, One Bite at a Time
- 사찰 sachal — temple — the formal term for a Buddhist temple, like Haedong Yonggungsa near Haeundae
- 사은품 saeunpum — free gift with purchase, usually unlocked by spending over a set amount
From: Pokémon Pokopia's First Concept Store Closes in Seongsu This Week
- 사기 sagi — scam / fraud
From: Korea Entry Paperwork: e-Arrival Card, K-ETA, and Avoiding Scam Sites
- 사계절 sagyejeol — the four seasons — Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, the base categories every personal color system builds on
From: Personal Color Analysis in Seoul: What It Is, What It Costs, Where to Book in English
- 사후환급 sahu hwan-geup — standard/after-the-fact refund — redeemed later at a kiosk or the airport
From: Tax-Free Shopping in Korea: Why Olive Young Feels Instant and SPAO Sends You to the Airport
- 사이즈 saijeu — size
From: Korean Shopping Phrases You Actually Need (Online or In-Store)
- 세일 seil — sale — from the English "sale," seen on discount signage everywhere
From: Off Beauty: Inside Korea's Discount K-Beauty Outlet Chain
- 세종대왕 sejong daewang — King Sejong the Great, the 15th-century Joseon ruler who created Hangul — also the face on the ₩10,000 note
From: Hangul Day: Celebrating the Alphabet Made for Everyone
- 설날 seollal — Lunar New Year — Korea's other major gift-giving holiday, alongside Chuseok
From: Korean Gift-Giving Culture: What to Give, When & What to Avoid
- 서면 Seomyeon — Busan's busiest downtown district, at the crossing of Subway Lines 1 and 2 — the closest thing the city has to Myeongdong
- 선물세트 seonmul seteu — gift set — the boxed, multi-item format Korean brands compete over every Chuseok and Seollal
- 세트 seteu — set — as in a bundled "1+1 세트," a common way K-beauty collabs package full-size and mini products together
From: Olive Young × Sanrio 'City Log': Inside K-Beauty's Biggest Character Collab Yet
- 승차권 seungchagwon — boarding ticket: what you tap at the gate, printed with Pikachu art this month
From: Your Airport Train Into Seoul Is a Pokémon Train Right Now
- 스팸 seupaem — Spam — the canned meat brand, a genuinely prestigious and popular Korean holiday gift, not a joke item
- 스탬프 랠리 seutaempeu raelli — stamp rally: collect a stamp at each stop and trade the full card for a prize. Very common at Korean pop-ups and festivals
From: Your Airport Train Into Seoul Is a Pokémon Train Right Now
- 신라면 Shin Ramyun — Nongshim's flagship spicy ramyun — "신" comes from the hanja 辛, meaning "spicy," not "new"
From: 신라면 분식 더 팩토리: We Visited Shin Ramyun's 40th Anniversary Pop-Up in Seongsu
- 신곡 singok — new song — the term for a freshly released track, like BIGBANG's "BiiiG"
From: Twenty Years, One Sky: BIGBANG Lights Up the Han River for Their 20th Anniversary
- 시원함 siwonham — a cool, refreshing sensation — how Koreans describe the menthol-like tingle of this serum
From: LABO·H Scalp Strengthening Roll-On Serum — First Impressions Review
- 송편 songpyeon — small half-moon rice cakes filled with sesame, chestnut, or sweet bean, made specifically for Chuseok
From: Visiting Korea During Chuseok 2026: What Travelers Need to Know
- 솥밥 sotbap — pot rice — rice cooked and served in an individual hot stone or metal pot, usually topped with fish, meat, or vegetables
From: Ikseon-dong: Seoul's Hanok Alley of Cafes, Boutiques, and Perfume
- 수분 subun — moisture / hydration — water-based hydration, as opposed to 영양 (nutrition), which signals richer formulas
- 수출 suchul — export — as in cosmetics exports, the other half of why the government is investing in this so heavily
From: K-Beauty Tourism Is Officially Booming — Here's What the Numbers Say
- 수문장 교대식 sumunjang gyodaesik — the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony, held at Gyeongbokgung twice daily
- 순대 sundae — Korean blood sausage, often served as a street-food side
From: A Taste of Korea: Beloved Favorites and Hidden Gems Worth Discovering
- 샷 추가 syat chuga — add a shot (of espresso). Just say it at the counter and they'll know
From: Kkosup Latte: Why Korea Is Suddenly Obsessed With Thick, Nutty Milk Coffee
- 택시 taeksi — taxi
From: Getting Around Seoul: A Quick, No-Fuss Guide , Getting Connected in Seoul: eSIM & Navigation Apps
- 탄력 tallyeok — elasticity or firmness
From: Beauty of Joseon Pore Firming Red Bean PDRN™ Serum — Full Review , Centellian24 Madeca Cream Tight Lifting — Full Review , 10 Korean Skincare Words You'll See on Every Label
- 탈모 talmo — hair loss — a major category in Korean haircare, with entire product lines built around it
From: LABO·H Scalp Strengthening Roll-On Serum — First Impressions Review
- 탕후루 tanghuru — tanghulu — fruit skewers dipped in a hard candy shell
From: South Korea's Food Trend Time Machine: A Decade of Going Viral, One Bite at a Time
- 톤업 tone up — a brightening or complexion-evening effect
From: Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen — Full Review
- 따릉이 ttareungi — Seoul's public bike-share system
- 떡 tteok — Korean rice cakes, made in many shapes, colours, and flavours
From: A Taste of Korea: Beloved Favorites and Hidden Gems Worth Discovering , Ikseon-dong: Seoul's Hanok Alley of Cafes, Boutiques, and Perfume
- 떡메모지 tteok memoji — a thick, glue-bound memo block. 떡 (tteok) means rice cake, after the way the pages stick together in one chunky slab
From: Pokémon Pokopia's First Concept Store Closes in Seongsu This Week
- 떡볶이 tteokbokki — chewy rice cakes cooked in a sweet and spicy red sauce
From: A Taste of Korea: Beloved Favorites and Hidden Gems Worth Discovering
- 띠부씰 ttibu ssil — the collectible stickers packed inside Pokémon bread that caused the actual frenzy
From: South Korea's Food Trend Time Machine: A Decade of Going Viral, One Bite at a Time
- 완판 wanpan — "sold out" — literally "perfectly sold," the word Korean media reaches for when a K-pop or beauty drop clears its entire stock
From: Jang Wonyoung's Cherry Hair Brush Is Everywhere — Is It Actually Worth It?
- 웜톤 womton — warm tone — a golden/yellow undertone (Spring or Autumn types)
From: Personal Color Analysis in Seoul: What It Is, What It Costs, Where to Book in English
- 야경 yagyeong — night view — what draws most visitors to N Seoul Tower after dark
- 양념게장 yangnyeom-gejang — raw crab marinated in a sweet and spicy seasoning
From: A Taste of Korea: Beloved Favorites and Hidden Gems Worth Discovering
- 여권 yeogwon — passport
From: Korea Entry Paperwork: e-Arrival Card, K-ETA, and Avoiding Scam Sites , Off Beauty: Inside Korea's Discount K-Beauty Outlet Chain , Tax-Free Shopping in Korea: Why Olive Young Feels Instant and SPAO Sends You to the Airport
- 연유 yeonyu — condensed milk, one of the home-barista shortcuts to a thicker latte
From: Kkosup Latte: Why Korea Is Suddenly Obsessed With Thick, Nutty Milk Coffee
- 여의도 Yeouido — the Han River island in Seoul home to Hangang Park, where the Water Light Stage sits
From: Twenty Years, One Sky: BIGBANG Lights Up the Han River for Their 20th Anniversary
- 예약 yeyak — reservation, booking
From: 포켓몬 무릉도원: Pokémon's 30th-Anniversary Pop-Up Opens in Jamsil Today , 신라면 분식 더 팩토리: We Visited Shin Ramyun's 40th Anniversary Pop-Up in Seongsu
- 요금 yogeum — fare — the cost of a ride
- 유리 머릿결 yuri meoritgyeol — "glass hair" — the smooth, light-reflecting hair look Korean beauty brands market almost every hair tool and treatment around
From: Jang Wonyoung's Cherry Hair Brush Is Everywhere — Is It Actually Worth It?
- 유산균 yusangyun — lactic acid bacteria / probiotics — the source of this serum's fermented lysate ingredient
From: LABO·H Scalp Strengthening Roll-On Serum — First Impressions Review
- 유심 yusim — physical SIM card — the thing an eSIM lets you skip entirely
- 유통기한 yutong gihan — expiry date, shelf life — worth checking before you buy anything discounted
From: Off Beauty: Inside Korea's Discount K-Beauty Outlet Chain