8 Korean Words Have Been Officially Added to the English Dictionary

In this year’s update, the Oxford English Dictionary has officially added eight new Korean words.

The new entries include everyday terms tied to food, social life, and living spaces, showing how the Korean language has moved from a niche interest to mainstream English usage worldwide.

Here are the newly added Korean words in the OED, along with their definitions:
Ramyeon (noun): Chinese-style wheat-flour noodles, dehydrated and sold pre-packaged as a convenience food to be reconstituted with hot water and mixed with freeze-dried vegetables and powdered seasonings.

• Haenyeo (noun): a female free-diver who harvests seafood as a means of livelihood.

• Sunbae (noun):  a member of a group or organization considered senior on account of age or experience, who can give guidance or assistance to a junior member. Also as a respectful title or form of address.

Ajumma (noun): a middle-aged or older woman, esp. one who is married. Also used as a form of address.

• Bingsu (noun): A Korean dessert of shaved ice with various sweet toppings such as condensed milk, red beans, chopped fruit, fruit syrup, etc.

• Jjimjilbang (noun): a bathhouse providing facilities for cleansing or relaxing such as hot and cold baths, traditional Korean kiln saunas, showers, and massage tables, as well as other amenities such as lounges, snack bars, exercise rooms, and sleeping areas with bunk beds or mats.

• Officetel (noun): a building with commercial as well as residential units. Also: a flat in such a building, typically a furnished studio apartment.

• Korean barbecue (noun): A Korean dish of thinly sliced, marinated meat such as chicken, pork, or beef, usually served raw to be cooked by the diner on a tabletop grill.

The additions mark another year of Korean vocabulary entering the OED, a trend driven by the Korean Wave.

Scholars note once a word is included, it remains permanently, underscoring how Korean language and culture are securing a lasting place in global English and modern communication.