The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Institute of the Korean Language announced on September 16 that they have simplified 34 foreign terms commonly used in media and daily life into easier Korean expressions.
The terms were refined through a process involving the 'New Words Group,' which included participation from media professionals, academics, and university students. A survey was conducted with 3,000 citizens aged 15 and older to gauge acceptance, leading to the final decisions made by the 2026 Third National Language Review Committee's Language Simplification Subcommittee.
The survey revealed that the foreign term with the highest demand for a Korean equivalent was 'middle mile' (73.8%). It was followed by 'echo chamber' (72.9%), 'mingling' (72.4%), and 'hip tradition' (70.8%).
The term 'middle mile,' referring to the intermediate stage of delivery items moving to logistics centers, has been refined to 'intermediate logistics.' The phenomenon of reinforcing beliefs or values through repeated exposure to information that aligns with one's preferences, known as 'echo chamber,' has been changed to 'belief amplification.' The term 'mingling,' which describes socializing with unfamiliar people, is now 'socializing,' and 'hip tradition,' which refers to the modern reinterpretation of traditional culture, has been adapted to 'new-sensibility tradition.'
Recently used foreign terms related to semiconductors have also been simplified. The term 'fab' (fabrication facility), which refers to a factory that produces semiconductor chips, has been changed to 'semiconductor production plant' or 'semiconductor manufacturing plant.' The term 'foundry,' which denotes a company that produces semiconductors based on external designs, is now 'semiconductor contract manufacturing.' The term 'fabless,' referring to companies that primarily focus on design and sales without manufacturing facilities, has been refined to 'semiconductor design specialist company.'
Expressions commonly used in the economic and industrial sectors were also included. The term 'Korea premium,' which indicates the rising value of South Korea's national brand, has been changed to 'Korea overvaluation' or 'Korea value increase.' Conversely, 'Korea discount,' which refers to the phenomenon of domestic companies being undervalued compared to their actual worth, is now 'Korea undervaluation.'
Additionally, 'Plan B,' which refers to a backup plan for when the original plan is difficult to execute, has been simplified to 'alternative plan,' and 'flagship,' which denotes something that represents or is central to a company, is now 'main product.'
The Ministry of Culture and the National Institute of the Korean Language plan to continue reviewing newly introduced unfamiliar expressions and simplify them into easy Korean, disseminating the information through various channels, including social media.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.