Korean culture continues to shape global language trends, with eight everyday Korean terms now officially recognized in the Oxford English Dictionary. The latest update highlights how Korean food, social customs, and lifestyle concepts are becoming increasingly familiar to English speakers worldwide.
This new batch of entries reflects words commonly used in daily life in Korea. They range from culinary staples like ramyeon (instant noodles prepared with hot water) and bingsu (shaved ice desserts with sweet toppings), to cultural and social terms such as haenyeo (female free-divers who harvest seafood), sunbae (a senior by age or experience), and ajumma (a middle-aged woman). Also included are jjimjilbang (traditional bathhouses offering relaxation facilities), Korean barbecue (grilled, thinly sliced meats cooked at the table), and officetel, a hybrid building designed for both residential and commercial use.
According to updates released by Oxford University Press, this marks the second year in a row that Korean vocabulary has expanded its presence in the dictionary. In 2023, seven other Korean words—such as dalgona and tteokbokki—were added, underscoring a steady rise in linguistic adoption.
The dictionary’s publisher and Korean language consultant, a professor at the University of Oxford, noted that some Korean terms took longer to be accepted compared to similar Japanese words already familiar in English. For instance, while ramen and ama have long appeared in English dictionaries, ramyeon and haenyeo required more documented usage in English-language sources before meeting editorial standards.
Growing international exposure has helped bridge that gap. Increased global interest in Korean television dramas and popular media has sparked wider discussion of terms like haenyeo, making reliable English-language references easier to find.
The inclusion of food-related terms also reflects changing global tastes. With Korean barbecue now firmly established in the dictionary, it joins other Korean meat dishes already recognized, including galbi, samgyeopsal, and bulgogi.
First published in 1884, the Oxford English Dictionary continues to evolve through regular updates, mirroring shifts in culture and communication. The expanding presence of Korean words is yet another sign of how the Korean wave is leaving a lasting imprint—not just on entertainment and cuisine, but on the English language itself.