Meme Dictionary

Cider / Sweet Potato (Satisfying vs. frustrating plot)

사이다 / 고구마

"Cider" and "sweet potato" are viewer slang for how a drama's plot feels. A "cider" moment is refreshing and satisfying,

Namjang-yeoja (Girl disguised as a boy)

남장 여자

"Namjang-yeoja" is a fun K-drama trope where a female character disguises herself as a man, and the male lead falls for

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

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

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

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,

Gieok-sangsil (Amnesia plot device)

기억상실

"Gieok-sangsil" (amnesia) is a beloved K-drama plot device where a character loses their memory, usually after an accide

Gobu-galdeung (Mother-in-law vs. daughter-in-law conflict)

고부갈등

"Gobu-galdeung" refers to conflict between a mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law, a deeply familiar tension in Korean

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

jaebeol 2se (Second-generation conglomerate heir)

재벌 2세

A "chaebol 2se" is the son or daughter of a family that owns a "chaebol," one of Korea's giant family-run conglomerates.

Secret of Birth (Hidden parentage twist)

출생의 비밀

"Secret of birth" is one of the most classic K-drama plot devices, in which a character's true parentage is hidden and l

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