'Ramyeon' among 8 new Korean words added to Oxford English Dictionary

Ramyeon packages are displayed at a supermarket in this undated photo. Yonhap

Eight Korean words have been newly added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), further cementing the global influence of Korean culture and language. The latest update by the Oxford University Press includes everyday terms familiar to Korean speakers, from beloved dishes to social titles.

The newly included entries are "ramyeon" (dried noodles and seasoning that are reconstituted in hot water), "haenyeo" (female free-divers who harvest seafood), "sunbae" (a senior member of a group based on age or experience), "bingsu" (shaved ice with sweet toppings), "jjimjilbang" (a bathhouse with facilities for relaxation), "ajumma" (a middle-aged woman), "Korean barbecue" (thinly sliced meat cooked on a grill) and "officetel" (a building with both commercial and residential units), according to Jieun Kiaer, the University of Oxford professor who serves as the publisher's Korean language consultant, Wednesday.

The additions mark the second consecutive year that Korean words have entered the OED. Last year, seven words including "dalgona" (a confection of baking soda and melted sugar) and "tteokbokki" (rice cakes in a spicy sauce) were added.

First published in 1884, the OED is known for its comprehensive online search platform and is regularly updated to reflect changes in language use.

Since the early 2000s, as the Korean wave gathered global momentum, more Korean vocabulary has been incorporated into the dictionary. In 2021 alone, 26 Korean words were added.

For entries such as ramyeon and haenyeo, the process took longer than for their Japanese counterparts, “ramen” and “ama.”

“I pushed to add ‘haenyeo’ a few years ago, but it was not successful due to a lack of research materials and information available in English,” the professor said. “This year, however, it became easier thanks to increased awareness of the word following a recent drama series, which prompted more discussion of the term in the English-speaking world.”

The inclusion of jjimjilbang and bingsu also reflects growing global interest in Korean culture. Meanwhile, Korean barbecue became the fourth dictionary entry related to Korean meat dishes, following "galbi" (grilled ribs), "samgyeopsal" (pork belly) and "bulgogi" (thinly sliced, marinated meat).

“Once a word enters the Oxford English Dictionary, it is not removed, even if it becomes outdated. That’s what makes this effort so meaningful,” Kiaer said. “The Korean language is leaving a lasting imprint on English and it will remain there."