The use of Korean words or slightly modified versions of them by the younger generation in Japan is increasing in Japanese pop culture, advertisements, and everyday conversations.

The New York Times reported this on November 1 local time in an article titled "The Source of Japan's New Slang Is, Surprisingly, Korean."

Comparing this to the history of the Korean language being suppressed during the Japanese colonial period about 100 years ago, The New York Times stated that the growing use of Korean in Japan today is evidence of the global appeal of Korean culture.

The analysis suggests that thanks to the success and influence of Korean culture, including K-pop, K-dramas, and K-beauty, the Korean language has deeply permeated the culture of Japan's younger generation.

The New York Times pointed out that starting around 2018, when BTS and BLACKPINK sparked a worldwide craze, the tendency for Japanese youths to accept and enjoy Korean language without reluctance has become distinct.

A university student and K-pop fan living in Tokyo revealed that they frequently mix Korean words like "jinjja" (really) and "mianhae" (sorry) into daily conversations.

They also said, "I don't know anything about Korea, but because it's a trend on social media, I find myself frequently using the word 'gwaenchanha' (it's okay)."

Experts cite the low linguistic barrier—stemming from the phonological similarities between Korean and Japanese and their geographical proximity—as the background.

In particular, as time spent at home increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities to encounter Korean content grew. Terms of address like "hyeong" (older brother for males) and "unni" (older sister for females) do not have exact equivalents in Japanese, leading to them being adopted as-is and widely used in Japan.

Choi Eun-kyung, a professor in the Department of Korean Language at Kansai University in Japan, explained that using Korean is "a way to express affection for K-pop and K-culture."

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Kim Na-on | Graphics by Lee Su-min | Produced by SBS Digital News