Photo credit, Getty Images
BTS is a global K-pop event
Whether you watch a series like Squid Game or listen to BTS hits like Butter or Dynamite, chances are high that it will have a Korean impact on your life.
Now South Korean influence has reached the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).
“Recognized authority of the English language” in its latest edition added 26 new words of Korean descent.
With these additions, “we are all at the peak of the Korean wave,” OED said in a statement.
“The sea of English words waves”
Korean food is high on the last list, including some new additions:
- Panchen, name. – A small side dish of vegetables served with rice as part of a typical Korean meal.
- Bulgogi, nm – In Korean cuisine, a dish consisting of thin slices of beef or pork, then roasted or stewed.
- kimbap, nm – Korean food made from cooked rice and other ingredients, wrapped in sponge leaf and cut into small pieces.
Photo credit, Getty Images
Another food item on the list is japchae, nm – Korean food made from cellophane noodles made from sweet potato starch, fried with vegetables and other ingredients.
With the international success of Squid Game, Parasite and BTS, it is no surprise that South Korean pop culture is also on the list.
- hallyu, nf – The growing international interest in South Korea and its popular culture is marked by the global success of South Korean music, film, television, fashion and food.
- K-drama, nm – Korean language television series made in South Korea.
- manhwa, nm – Korean genre of cartoons and comics, mostly influenced by Japanese manga.
- mukbang, nm – video, especially live broadcast, in which a person eats a large amount of food and talks to the audience.
The OED claims that the inclusion of several Korean words recognizes the evolution of the language used by English speakers.
“They show Asians from different parts of the continent finding and exchanging words in their own local contexts, and then introducing those words to other parts of the English – speaking world, allowing the Korean wave to continue to wave across the ocean. English words.”
A mood turned towards the world
According to Dr. Hi-Kyung Lee of King’s College London, the success of Korean exports such as squid game or parasite may be due to more global thinking on the part of cultural makers.
“It’s been more than ten years since the first successes of K-pop, so Korean cultural makers have a global mindset,” says Dr. Lee, who conducts research on culture and the arts, studying the rise of K-drama and K-pop. .
According to him, the characters in the Korean series are related to the British and foreigners, despite their geographical and linguistic differences.
“The characters don’t have much faith, they have no future, they are struggling to survive.”
Photo credit, Netflix
According to Netflix, Squid Game has reached number one in 90 countries.
“There is something unique about these plays or movies that strikes a chord with people all over the world.”
“They present a critique of social and socio-economic conditions that people can relate to through characters.”
He says the industry is engaged with Western countries in terms of cultural production and hopes it will continue to grow.
“In terms of technology and talent, they are on the cutting edge and have a strong ability to create high quality works,” he adds.
Rise of Korean culture
The success of South Korean exports to the UK is not new.
In 2012, you may remember rapper Sai Kanganam Style, who became the first South Korean pop star to top the UK singles rankings.
The Oscar-winning film Parasite is currently the highest grossing non-English film in the UK.
And the pop group BTS became the first Korean band to record the best-selling album in the UK – and also appeared on Radio 1 this year, recording a special live lounge show.
Squid Game has become the most watched series of all time on Netflix – it is in the UK Top 10 and 95% of the show’s viewers are not from Korea.
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