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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, December 3, 2006

New mix of Korean, English language is called Konglish

By Jeff Chung

There's deception and death in episodes 5 and 6 of "Green Rose."

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We know how creative Koreans are with film and TV. But did you know they take artistic license with language? In a recent conversation with some native Koreans, I found something very interesting — Koreans have infused many English words into the Korean language, and in some cases have created their own words. In the U.S. it's referred to as Konglish.

Koreans thought the words were commonly used in the U.S., when in fact they exist only in Korea. Some of them reveal just how playful language can be.

Here are a few examples:

S line: It sounds like English but you have to wonder what it means. It's used in reference to a woman's physique — that ideal serpentine profile running from chest to buttocks. Korean women are on a health craze and working out is a big trend, with fitness centers popping up all over Seoul, as women work on their S lines.

Well-being: This term is perhaps the most closely related to its American counterpart. It's a general term for healthy living — a new lifestyle in South Korea that encompasses healthy food, mind, body and spirit. Organic foods are extremely popular; exercising, yoga and overall self-improvement for a healthier life is the trend. The Korean drama "My Precious Child" had a character who owned a well-being company that supplied products for sale on a shopping channel.

Kingka: I was told this term was derived from "king card," as in a deck of cards. It's used to describe a man who is top or the best. Usually referring to looks, kingka also can be used to mean the guy is eligible. I've been hearing kingka since the 1980s, and it appears the inventor of the term didn't play cards much, because the king is actually the second most valuable card. These days I do occasionally hear the use of ace instead of kingka.

Skinship: Means to be touchy or physical, and includes intimacy. You will hear it used commonly in dramas and shows.

Sunting: Car-window tinting. I have a friend who lived in the U.S. for more than 10 years then moved back to South Korea. She went to an auto-service center and asked for tinting. The service person did not understand what she meant. So she had to explain that the sun was too strong and she wanted to cut the heat. The service person said, "Miss, you mean sunting! Not tinting!"

Fighting: It's an English word but with a new meaning. It's used to cheer someone on. It would be the equivalent to shouting "Go 'Bows!" at a University of Hawai'i basketball game. Let's say your friend was about to take a big test, you would say her name then add "fighting." "Yun fighting!" means "Good luck, Yun!"

Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD, which televises Korean dramas. If you have a K-drama question or comment, contact him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.

THIS WEEK'S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES

'INFAMOUS CHILL SISTERS'

EPISODES 41 AND 42

Tonight at 7: Myongja goes to see Seolchill elated and with bundles of her favorite food, only to be rejected coldly by Seolchill. Yangpal is shocked yet again when he hears Seolchill had asked about her birth mother. Hanam asks Ilhan to be there for Seolchill and calls her behind Michill's back.

Tonight at 8: Michill is furious when she finds out Ilhan met with Seolchil. When Chansoon finds out Jongchill asked Taeja to go with her on one of her regular checkups, she forbids her to disturb Taeja's studies.

'KOREA SECRET AGENCY'

EPISODES 13 AND 14

Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: Kang meets with Un-hyok and says that he is not a corporate spy. As Un-hyok continues with his plans to bring down a shadowy organization called the National Conservative Movement, Kang continues to work with Joo-yon to prove his own innocence and to go after Yun-hee.

Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Kang convinces Chung Yun-hee that he will come up with the money needed for the deal with LK's Kim Ki-yul to be completed.

'LOVE & AMBITION'

EPISODES 69 AND 70

Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Aunt Paju brings up moving back to her hometown. Tae-joon storms out when he hears the news of Mi-ja's car accident, leaving Jae-eun behind. Tae-joon postpones his wedding until Mi-ja recovers.

Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Semi returns with her husband, and asks her mother to stay with her for a few months. Bong-jin goes after Tae-soo with a broken bottle. Mi-ja is furious when she learns the chairman has accepted Tae-joon's resignation.

'GREEN ROSE'

EPISODES 5 AND 6

Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Jung-hyun switches clothes, and plants his ID on the homeless person and drops him in the river when he dies. Disguised as a doctor, Jung-hyun goes to see Chairman Oh in the hospital.

Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Hyun-tae fires Yoo-ran. Jung-hyun goes to Shanghai to find Yoo-ran. Having lost everything, Yoo-ran starts singing at a nightclub. Jung-hyun follows Yoo-ran when she flees a scene after a loud argument with a customer.