2025-2026 trending slang
킹받다Royally annoying (킹 king + 받다 to receive)
갓생Living your best life (God + 생활 life)
억텐Forced enthusiasm (억지 forced + 텐션 tension)
점메추Lunch recommendation (점심 메뉴 추천)
별다줄Abbreviating everything (별걸 다 줄인다)
중꺾마What matters is not to break (중요한 건 꺾이지 않는 마음)
어쩔티비So what, watch TV (dismissive comeback)
저쩔티비Counter to 어쩔티비
갈비Replacing someone (갈아 버리다 — swap out)
Textbook그것은 매우 짜증납니다geu-geot-eun mae-u jja-jeung-nap-ni-daThat is very annoying
킹받다 took 열받다 (heated/angry) and added 킹 (king) for emphasis. This is how Korean slang evolves — take existing words and add intensity prefixes: 킹 (king), 갓 (God), 핵 (nuclear).
How Korean slang is made
초성 줄임: ㅇㅈ (인정), ㅂㅂ (바이바이)First-consonant abbreviation: acknowledged, bye bye
합성어: 치맥 (치킨+맥주)Compound words: chicken + beer
영어 믹스: 킹받다, 갓생English mix: king+anger, God+life
역설적: 어쩔티비 (so what TV)Absurdist: meaningless comeback
드라마/예능 유래: 중꺾마From shows: what matters is an unbroken spirit
Korean slang has a half-life of about 6-12 months. Using last year's slang makes you sound like a 아재 (old man). The only safe ones that survived: 대박, 헐, ㅋㅋ. Everything else rotates.
Rule of Korean slang: if your Korean teacher uses it, it's already dead. By the time slang reaches textbooks, Korean teens have moved on to the next thing. Follow Korean Twitter/X, YouTube comments, and 에펨코리아 to stay current. Or just ask a Korean friend under 25.
Quick Quiz