Idols, fans, charts, premieres and the words of the Korean wave.
Practise this list
From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
Korean pop culture has its own vocabulary, and much of it is English that has shifted on the way: a 컴백 is any new release by an established group, however short the break, and 굿즈 is merchandise. The Sino-Korean words are often vivid: 역주행, “driving the wrong way”, is a song climbing back up the charts years later, and 떼창 is a whole crowd singing along.
The words
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Verb (3)
데뷔하다to make one’s debutVerb4
그 그룹은 데뷔하자마자 큰 인기를 얻었어요.The group became hugely popular as soon as it debuted.
출연하다to appear (in a programme or film)Verb4
그 배우는 이번 드라마에 경찰 역으로 출연해요.That actor appears in this drama as a police officer.
수상하다to win an awardVerb4
그 영화는 여러 영화제에서 수상했어요.That film won awards at several festivals.
Spelt the same as 수상하다, “to be suspicious”.
Noun (37)
한류the Korean wave (the spread of Korean pop culture)Noun4
한류 덕분에 한국어를 배우는 외국인이 많아졌어요.Thanks to the Korean wave, more and more foreigners are learning Korean.
Said [할류]; literally “Korean current”.
대중문화popular cultureNoun4
대학에서 대중문화를 연구하는 수업을 들었어요.At university I took a course on popular culture.
대중the public; the massesNoun4
그 가수는 대중에게 사랑받는 노래를 많이 불렀어요.That singer sang many songs that the public loved.
아이돌idol (a pop star trained by an agency)Noun3
조카는 아이돌 가수가 되는 게 꿈이에요.My niece dreams of becoming an idol singer.
Usually a member of a group, trained and managed by an agency.
팬fanNoun3
공항에 팬들이 수백 명이나 모였어요.Hundreds of fans gathered at the airport.
팬클럽fan clubNoun4
좋아하는 배우의 팬클럽에 가입했어요.I joined my favourite actor’s fan club.
팬덤fandom; a body of fansNoun4
그 그룹은 해외에도 큰 팬덤을 가지고 있어요.That group has a large fandom abroad as well.
소속사talent agency (that an entertainer belongs to)Noun4
소속사는 두 사람이 사귀는 사이가 아니라고 밝혔어요.The agency stated that the two of them are not going out.
Literally “the company one belongs to”.
연습생trainee (preparing for a debut)Noun4
그는 오 년 동안 연습생으로 지낸 뒤에 데뷔했어요.He made his debut after five years as a trainee.
오디션auditionNoun4
오디션을 보러 지방에서 서울로 올라왔어요.I came up to Seoul from the provinces for an audition.
You take an audition with 보다: 오디션을 보다.
팬미팅fan meeting (an event for fans)Noun4
팬미팅에서 가수가 팬들과 같이 게임을 했어요.At the fan meeting the singer played games with the fans.
컴백comeback (any new release by an established act)Noun4
그 그룹이 일 년 만에 새 노래로 컴백했어요.The group is back with a new song after a year.
Used of every new release, however short the break: 컴백하다.
역주행a song climbing the charts long after its releaseNoun4
몇 년 전에 나온 노래가 갑자기 차트에서 역주행했어요.A song that came out a few years ago suddenly climbed back up the charts.
Literally “driving the wrong way”.
음원music track (for download or streaming)Noun4
요즘은 음반보다 음원으로 음악을 듣는 사람이 많아요.These days more people listen to music as digital tracks than on CDs.
Said [으뭔].
음악 방송TV music show (where groups perform new songs)Noun4
새 노래는 이번 주 음악 방송에서 처음 공개돼요.The new song will be performed for the first time on a music show this week.
뮤직비디오music videoNoun4
이번 뮤직비디오는 외국에서 찍었대요.I heard this music video was shot abroad.
안무choreography; dance routineNoun4
이번 노래는 안무가 어려워서 따라 하기 힘들어요.The dance routine for this song is hard to copy.
차트chart (of best-selling songs)Noun4
그 노래는 몇 주째 차트 상위권에 있어요.That song has been near the top of the charts for weeks.
흥행box-office success; commercial successNoun4
그 영화는 흥행에는 실패했지만 지금은 명작으로 꼽혀요.The film flopped at the box office, but today it counts as a classic.
예고편trailer; previewNoun4
예고편만 봐도 재미있을 것 같아요.Just from the trailer, it looks fun.
응원봉light stick (waved by fans at a concert)Noun4
공연장의 관객들이 모두 응원봉을 흔들었어요.Everyone in the audience waved their light sticks.
Each group has its own design.
영화제film festivalNoun4
가을에 부산에서 열리는 영화제에 가 보고 싶어요.I would like to go to the film festival held in Busan in the autumn.
시청률viewing figures; TV ratingsNoun4
마지막 회는 시청률이 아주 높았어요.The final episode had very high viewing figures.
Said [시청뉼].
떼창a whole crowd singing alongNoun4
관객들의 떼창에 가수가 감동해서 눈물을 흘렸어요.The singer was moved to tears when the crowd sang along.
From 떼, a crowd, and 창, singing.
주연leading role; lead actorNoun4
그녀는 첫 영화에서 주연을 맡았어요.She played the lead in her first film.
조연supporting roleNoun4
그 배우는 조연이지만 연기가 정말 뛰어나요.That actor only has a supporting role, but the acting is outstanding.
화보photo shoot; magazine photo spreadNoun4
그 배우는 잡지 화보를 찍으러 파리에 갔어요.The actor went to Paris for a magazine photo shoot.
캐스팅casting (choosing actors)Noun4
그 배우가 새 드라마의 주인공으로 캐스팅됐어요.That actor has been cast as the lead in a new drama.
연출direction; staging (of a play or programme)Noun4
이 연극은 연출이 정말 독특해요.The staging of this play is really unusual.
A film director is a 감독.
시상식awards ceremonyNoun4
연말 시상식에서 그 배우가 대상을 받았어요.That actor won the grand prize at the year-end awards ceremony.
열풍craze; boomNoun4
요즘 해외에서 한국 음식 열풍이 불고 있어요.Korean food is all the rage abroad at the moment.
A craze “blows”: 열풍이 불다.
더빙dubbingNoun4
어린이 영화는 보통 더빙으로 상영해요.Children’s films are usually shown dubbed.
속편sequelNoun4
속편은 첫 편보다 재미없다는 사람이 많아요.Many people say the sequel is not as good as the first film.
장르genreNoun4
어떤 장르의 음악을 좋아하세요?What kind of music do you like?
사인회signing sessionNoun4
작가 사인회에 가서 책에 사인을 받았어요.I went to the author’s signing and got my book signed.
스타star (a famous performer)Noun3
그는 영화 한 편으로 하루아침에 스타가 됐어요.He became a star overnight with a single film.
굿즈merchandise (for fans)Noun4
콘서트장에서 굿즈를 사려고 한참 줄을 섰어요.I queued for ages at the concert venue to buy merchandise.
