There is no doubt that the Korean wave has flooded nations worldwide. Since the 1990s, K-pop, K-drama, K-beauty, K-food, K-style and other elements of K-culture have gained global popularity, via social media and other popular platforms. These are reasons why the K-wave is bigger now than ever before.
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) continues to add Korean words to reflect the globalization of Korean culture and how language evolves to capture cultural phenomena. The selection process for these words is meticulous. The OED editors monitor word usage through written and spoken sources, including books, articles, and social media. Words are chosen based on independent examples of consistent usage over time. The inclusion of these words in the OED reflects the global impact of Korean culture.
Besides the word ‘Korean’, which was added in 1933, the earliest unique Korean word was ‘kimchi’ in 1976 followed by ‘K-pop’ in 2016. In the September 2021 update, twenty-six Korean words were included, such as galbi, hanbok, hallyu and unni. In their recent December 2024 update, seven Korean words were added, which are dalgona, hyung, jjigae, maknae, noraebang, pansori, and tteokbokki. As my own little tribute to the recent OED K-inclusion, I thought I would bring out the K-foodie in me and make the Korean dishes, dalgona, jjigae and tteokbokki.
This is my version of dalgona. Not as easy to make as it might seem!
Dalgona (달고나)
“A Korean confection made by adding baking soda to melted sugar, typically sold by street vendors in the form of a flat disc with a simple shape such as a heart, star, etc., carved on its surface. Frequently as a modifier, esp. in dalgona candy, dalgona cookie.” (OED definition)
Until now, I have never made dalgona, not even after its popularity in the Netflix series Squid Game. At first, I had a hard time finding the right temperature and burned the sugar, which made it turn all black. Either I did not wait long enough or I waited too long for the mixture to cool down so it was too soft or too hard for making the impression into the spongy mold. This was not as easy as it might seem. After several more attempts and going through 1 kg of sugar, I finally did it! I even managed this without using the necessary equipment.
Presenting my very first kimchi jjigae, made with my recipe of cabbage kimchi.
Jjigae (찌개)
“In Korean cookery: any of various broth-based stews, typically made with seafood, meat, or vegetables. Frequently with modifying word denoting the seasoning used or the principal ingredient, as doenjang jjigae, kimchi jjigae, etc.” (OED definition)
Jjigae is usually served bubbling hot in a communal pot and accompanied by rice and side dishes (banchan). My favorite is kimchi jjigae because of its perfect balance of spicy, savory, tangy and umami flavors, which makes the perfect kind of comfort food. Finding the ingredients can be a little tricky, so I had to improvise. Just remember to use fermented kimchi: the older the kimchi, the better taste! The inclusion of ‘jjigae’ in the OED reflects how integral Korean cuisine has become in global food culture.
Strolling down memory lane with my homemade version of tteokbokki.
Tteokbokki (떡볶이)
“A Korean dish consisting of small, cylindrical rice cakes cooked in a spicy sauce made with gochujang (red chili paste) sauce, usually served as a snack (often as street food).” (OED definition)
The first time I tasted tteokbokki was in 2019, when some Korean friends took me to the Jayang Market in Seoul and introduced me to the world of Korean street food. I was overwhelmed by all the choices but it was the tteokbokki that stood out because of the soft and spicy rice cakes. This street food that was once a royal dish during the Joseon Dynasty is widely available across Korea and can easily be made at home. Be sure to soak the rice cakes beforehand to soften them. Other variations are cheese~, rose~ and jjajang tteokbokki, which adds even more flavors to this beloved dish.
English is no longer evolving solely within traditional centers like the UK and the USA. Words from Asia, particularly the Republic of Korea, are shaping modern vocabulary. As the Korean wave continues, it will be exciting to see which words become part of everyday English next!
A special thanks to Dr. Danica Salazar, Executive Editor for World Englishes at the Oxford English Dictionary, for providing insights into the selection process and the significance of Korean words in the English language.
TRIVIA!
1. Did you know that you could submit a word of Korean origin to the Oxford English Dictionary?
2. In total, around 50 Korean words have been added to the OED.
3. The OED updates on a quarterly basis: March, June, September and December.
4. The place name "Korea" has appeared in English usage since the early 17th century.
5. The word ‘Korean’ was originally spelled ‘Corean’ and was not spelled with a K until the 1800s.
SOURCES:
- https://www.oed.com/discover/new-words-from-around-the-world-in-the-oed-december-2024-update/
- https://www.oed.com/discover/daebak-a-k-update/
- https://www.oed.com/information/updates/previous-updates/2016-2/june-2016
- https://www.oed.com/discover/words-of-korean-origin/
- https://www.oed.com/discover/daebak-a-k-update
- https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Society/view?articleId=264601
- https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10385065
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