Why 26 Korean words have been added to Oxford English Dictionary

BTS are a global K-pop phenomenon

Whether it's watching a show like Squid Game or listening to BTS hits such as Butter or Dynamite, chances are you've had some kind of Korean influence in your life.

And now that South Korean influence has reached the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).

The "accepted authority on the English language" has added 26 new words of Korean origin to its latest edition.

With these additions, "we are all riding the crest of the Korean wave" the OED says in a statement.

'A wave rippling on the sea of English words'

Korean food features heavily in the latest list, with some of the new additions including:

• banchan, noun. - A small side dish of vegetables, served along with rice as part of a typical Korean meal.

• bulgogi, n. - In Korean cooking: a dish of thin slices of beef or pork which are marinated then grilled or stir-fried.

• kimbap, n. - A Korean dish consisting of cooked rice and other ingredients wrapped in a sheet of seaweed and cut into bite-sized slices.

Another food item on the list is japchae, n. - a Korean dish consisting of cellophane noodles made from sweet potato starch, stir-fried with vegetables and other ingredients

With the international success of Squid Game, Parasite and BTS, it should come as no surprise South Korean pop culture is represented in the list as well.

• hallyu, n. - The increase in international interest in South Korea and its popular culture, represented by the global success of South Korean music, film, TV, fashion and food.

• K-drama, n. - A television series in the Korean language and produced in South Korea.

• manhwa, n. - A Korean genre of cartoons and comic books, often influenced by Japanese manga.

• mukbang, n. - A video, esp. one that is livestreamed, that features a person eating a large quantity of food and talking to the audience.

The OED said including so many Korean words was a recognition of the shift in language used by English speakers.

"They show how Asians in different parts of the continent invent and exchange words within their own local contexts, then introduce these words to the rest of the English-speaking world, thus allowing the Korean wave to continue to ripple on the sea of English words."

The full list of new words can be found here.

'A global mindset'

The success of Korean exports such as Squid Game or Parasite can be put down to greater global thought by cultural producers, according to Dr Hye-Kyung Lee from King's College London.

• Squid Game: How one Netflix show gripped the world

"It's been more than 10 years since the early success of K-pop, so Korean cultural producers have a global mindset," says Dr Lee, who researches culture and arts, looking at the rise of K-drama and K-pop.

She says characters in K-drama are ones people in the UK and internationally can relate to, despite the geography and language difference.

"The characters do not have a lot of hope, they don't have a future and just struggle to survive."

Squid Game has reached number one in 90 countries, according to Netflix

"These dramas or films are entertaining, and they have something unique which can strike a chord with people around the world."

"They present a critique of society and social economic conditions, which people can relate to through the characters."

She says the industry has caught up with Western countries in terms of cultural production and believe it will continue to grow.

"In terms of technology and talent, they are cutting edge and have a strong capacity to produce high quality products," she adds.

The rise of Korean culture

The success of South Korean exports in the UK has been happening for a while.

Back in 2012, you might remember Gangnam Style by rapper Psy, who became the first South Korean pop star to make it to the top of the UK singles chart.

Oscar-winning film Parasite is currently the highest-grossing non-English language film in the UK.

And pop group BTS became the first Korean act to score a chart-topping album in the UK - and appeared on Radio 1 this year, recording a special Live Lounge performance.

Squid Game is currently on track to be Netflix's most-watched series ever - it's in the UK top 10 list and 95% of the show's viewers are from outside Korea.

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