Have you noticed any uncommon words used in Korean media or Korean television? Perhaps, you thought you were missing out on the latest English slang. However, it's just so that there are many words that are only used in Korea. In fact, Korea coined a lot of these words themselves. 

They didn't really make up these words, but these are terms that were created based on the usage and culture in South Korea, and there are lots of words that they use that are not used in the U.S. or any other country! These terms are often called "Konglish," which is a mix between Korean and English.  Let's check out these words and see what they actually mean!

1) Un-tact

You probably heard a lot of "un-tact" ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. K-POP fans may have seen it even more through un-tact concerts of fan meetings. Un-tact, is a combination of "un" and "contact;" thus, the term un-tact was coined. In the U.S., we often use the word contactless or contact-free, but it's almost never used in American culture. In fact, SBS News created a short segment on this word itself! 

2) Newtro

When you hear that there is a newtro boom in South Korea, you are probably confused. Newtro is often referred to in the fashion industry, but it can also be referred to in pop culture. When the vintage and retro trend hit globally, South Korea was actually one of the first countries to take part in it. Since it is "retro," but they have a new twist to it, the term "newtro" was coined. A lot of people in the fashion industry call this trend a "newtro" trend where old clothing and vintage are coming back to style. Yet, Koreans are the only people that use this term! 

3) Man-to-Man

Man-to-man is also a fashion term, and it is the Korean term for "crewneck sweaters." Everyone in South Korea, old or young, will call is this term. Man-to-man is actually a sports term, often used in basketball and field hockey. Many athletes used to wear these sweatshirts when playing the sport, and eventually, it was coined man-to-man. As time evolved, this kind of apparel became more common, and it wasn't only available to athletes as they are super comfortable, and it is becoming one of the normcore looks. However, we all still know that it is referred to as "crewnecks" in the U.S.

4) Short Padding / Long Padding

We can see Koreans wearing short-paddings and long-paddings during the fiercely cold winter season. Little do Koreans know that it's actually not what it's called. If you enter a clothing store in the U.S and ask for long padding, the employee will most likely be confused as to what you are talking about. In the U.S, it's often referred to as a padded jacket, puffy jacket, puffer, goose down jacket -- there isn't exactly a universal "term" that the States use. It just also symbolizes that a "long padding" jacket is an essential in South Korea.

5) Skinship

Skinship is a term coined from "skin" and "relationship," often referring to physical contact with someone. This term is often used in relationships, and it can be compared with the phrase "physical display of affection" (PDA). We can often see celebrities mentioning this term when it comes to dating shows or any reality entertainment show. 

What did you think of these words? Have you seen them being used by your favorite celebrity? Did you know the meanings behind these terms? Have you noticed any other Konglish (Korean-English) terms that were used that you were unfamiliar with? Let us know in the comments below, and we'll be back with part 2 of this series!