Gieok-sangsil (Amnesia plot device)

Bulchibyeong (Terminal illness plot device)

불치병

"Bulchibyeong" (incurable illness) is a classic K-drama trope where a main character is diagnosed with a fatal disease,

Makjang (Over-the-top melodrama)

막장 (막장 드라마)

"Makjang" describes a style of Korean drama packed with outrageous, over-the-top plot twists that pile up far beyond rea

Cinderella Story (Rags-to-riches romance)

신데렐라 스토리

The "Cinderella story" is a wildly popular K-drama romance formula in which an ordinary, often poor but kind and hardwor

Byeokchigi (Kabedon / wall-pin)

벽치기

"Byeokchigi" is the classic K-drama move where a man corners someone against a wall, placing his hand or arm on the wall

Achim Drama (Korean morning soap opera)

아침드라마

"Achim drama" (morning drama) refers to Korean TV soap operas that air on weekday mornings, aimed largely at homemakers

Wanna come up for ramyeon?

라면 먹고 갈래요?

"Wanna eat ramyeon before you go?" is a famous Korean phrase that works as a subtle invitation to come inside, a suggest

Siljangnim (The dreamy "chief" boss)

실장님

"Siljangnim" literally means "chief" or "manager" of an office or department, but in K-drama culture it became shorthand

Kimchi Slap (Slapping someone with kimchi)

김치싸대기

"Kimchi slap" refers to an iconic scene type in Korean makjang dramas where a character furiously slaps another across t