Memorize K-pop and K-drama Korean: 191 Fandom Words from Maknae to Daesang

Subtitles teach you saranghae; fan forums assume you already know maknae, daesang and comeback. UL6597 – Korean K-pop & K-drama Vocabulary collects 191 of those words: English or romanized front, Hangul plus romanization and meaning on the back. It is a fandom glossary rather than a grammar deck, so the way to learn it is to sort it.

Eight cards from the deck

What the 191 cards cover

Group roles (bias, bias wrecker, visual, center, main vocalist, lead rapper, main dancer, all-rounder), kinship titles (oppa, unnie, hyung, noona), the release cycle (trainee, pre-debut, debut, teaser, concept photo, title track, B-side, mini album, repackage, comeback, hiatus, disbandment), music shows (Music Bank, Inkigayo, M Countdown, Show Champion, The Show), awards (신인상, 본상, 대상), ten fandom names (Army, Blink, Once, Stay, Atiny, Engene…), fan apps (Weverse, Bubble), interjections (daebak, aigoo, jinjja, eottoke, hwaiting), drama genres and tropes (makjang, second lead syndrome, back hug, wrist grab), and everyday culture (soju, noraebang, PC bang, hanbok, hallyu).

How to study it

Split loanwords from real Korean. About half the deck is English in Hangul: 컴백, 데뷔, 티저, 리패키지, 굿즈. Do not memorize these one by one; learn the conversion pattern instead (f → ㅍ in 파이팅, v → ㅂ in 비주얼, a final consonant gets ㅡ: 스, 드, 크). Spend your reviews on the Sino-Korean words, which unlock vocabulary outside fandom: 상 "prize" links 대상, 본상, 신인상 and 시상식; 주연 / 조연 (lead / supporting role) share 演 "perform"; 한정판 and 선주문 recur in any online shop.

Watch the speech levels. 사랑해, 고마워, 미안해, 몰라 and 가자 are banmal, for friends and idols on stage; 아니요, 네 and 멋있어요 are polite. 귀엽다 and 예쁘다 are dictionary forms you would say as 귀여워 / 예뻐. Tag each interjection "casual" or "polite" before you use one with a stranger.

Correct a few backs. Omo is fan spelling of 어머 / 어머나 (eomeo); 오모 is not a Korean word. Chincha is not a different pronunciation of 진짜, only an older romanization. Several romanizations are off: 해체 = haeche, 기획사 = gihoeksa, 리패키지 = ripaekiji, 굿즈 = gujeu, 스릴러 = seurilleo. "Behind the scenes – BTS content" means the abbreviation, not the band. And V Live, card 83, shut down on 31 December 2022; its content moved to Weverse.

For food words from the same dramas, continue with Korean Food Vocabulary: 199 dishes, ingredients and restaurant phrases.

Find UL6597 – Korean K-pop & K-drama Vocabulary in the library on Flip It.