Korean neologisms of 2017–2021

Abstract

This paper investigates the Korean neologisms of the years 2017 to 2021, collected by the Center for Korean Language Information Studies at Kyungpook National University, and examines in particular the 1,081 neologisms that contains at least one borrowed element, which constitute 58.2% of the neologisms collected during that timeframe. The analysis of the source languages of the loans (i.e., the borrowed elements) confirms the preponderance of English in neologism creation due to its status and prestige globally, with 1,024 neologisms containing at least one English morpheme. The examination of semantic categories of the loan-based neologisms shows the dominant interest of Korean speakers in the Economy, Society, and Life & Lifestyle domains, which is also reflected in those that were included in the dictionary Urimalsaem or suggested for inclusion by the dictionary users. Those neologisms in particular were further analysed and proved to be testament to cultural changes in Korean society, which has been shifting from a traditionally Confucian, male-dominant, work-oriented, and holistic society to a society that gives more space to women (ppaminisuthu “dad feminist”) as well as the individual (nanalayntu “me-me-land”) and their well-being (welapayl “work-life balance”, chonkhangsu “countryside vacances”).