Hello Bias

Learning Korean while working full-time is a marathon, not a sprint. In my previous article, I shared how busy adults can carve out study time amidst a hectic schedule.  How to Learn Korean While Working a Full-Time Job (Even If You’re B...

Why Learning Korean Feels So Hard with a Full-Time Job Let’s be honest.After a full day of work, studying Korean feels impossible. You might be thinking: “I’m already exhausted from my job.”“I want to understand my bias, but I end up scr...

Have you ever come across the word “mukbang” while watching K-Pop content or Korean YouTube videos? At first glance, it may look like someone simply eating in front of a camera.But mukbang is more than just a food video — it’s a cultural...

Hi, it’s Ayakim 👋Today, we’re learning how to say “is not / are not” in Korean. Previously, we learned the affirmative forms: Noun + 입니다 (“~ is” / formal) Noun + 이에요/예요 (“~ is” / polite spoken) If you haven’t reviewed those yet ...

“Selca (셀카)” Means Selfie in K-POP Culture “Selca” is short for Self Camera. In Korean, 셀프 카메라 (self camera) is shortened to 셀카.The meaning is simply “selfie.” It’s not only used by idols—everyone in Korea uses the word selca in...

Hi, it’s Ayaka here 👋 Today, I put together a helpful list of essential K-POP stan vocabulary— the words every fan eventually learns while falling deeper into the fandom. This guide includes:✔︎ English slang commonly used in internation...

Have you ever wondered if there’s a Korean version of “OT7” or “OT8”? Actually, expressions like OT7 / OT8 / OT9 are mainly used by international K-POP fans.Korean fans usually use the word “올팬 (olpaen)”, pronounced like “all-fan.” Tod...

Starting last week, our full Korean grammar series has officially begun! Previously, we looked at the three basic verb styles in Korean: 합니다 (hamnida) style 해요 (haeyo) style 한다 (handa) style We covered them in this article: Korean...

Hi, it’s Ayakim here.Starting today, let’s begin learning Korean grammar step by step. You might be thinking:“Ugh, grammar is boring!”“Isn’t it faster to just memorize phrases?” I get it — but trust me, knowing grammar helps you read and...

K-POP fans often use expressions like OT7, OT8, or OT9 on social media.If you’re new to the fandom, you might think, “What are these numbers?!”Don’t worry — here’s a simple guide to what OT means and how fans use it. What Does OT7 / OT8 ...

Today, let’s talk about the term “Bias”, which is commonly used by English-speaking K-POP fans. It’s a word you’ll hear often in conversations between fans. You’ll even see people write things like “Bias: ___” in their social media profi...

If you’re a K-POP fan, you’ve probably heard the term “sasaeng” before.Sometimes misunderstood as simply “super fans,” sasaengs often cross serious boundaries—and in many cases, their behavior is borderline criminal, or even illegal. In ...

What’s an all-rounder in K-pop?It’s an idol who can sing, dance, rap—and do it all well.Here are 10 male idols in 2025 who truly have it all. Let’s take a look. What Is an “All-Rounder” in K-pop? Meaning of “All-Rounder” An “all-rounder”...

Have you heard the term “bias wrecker” before?Do you think it’s outdated? It might not be as trendy as it used to be, but "bias wrecker" is still a term many K-pop fans know—and feel.In this post, we’ll break down what it means, how it's...

K-POP fans often use expressions like OT7, OT8, or OT9 on social media.If you’re new to the fandom, you might think, “What are these numbers?!”Don’t worry — here’s a simple guide to what OT means and how fans use it. What Does OT7 / OT8 ...

If you’re a K-pop fan, you’ve probably heard idols calling each other “hyung.”But what exactly does it mean? And why does it matter so much in idol groups? In this article, we’ll break down the meaning and use of hyung, and explore what ...

If you're a K-pop fan, you've probably heard the term "maknae" before.But what does it actually mean? What role does the maknae play in a group? In this article, we'll break down the meaning and use of maknae, and introduce some of the m...

Have you ever come across the term “97 line” while diving into K-Pop idol content?In K-Pop, the “97 line” refers to a group of idols born in 1997, and it’s one of the most well-known line groups among fans.Famous idols like BTS’s Jungkoo...

Hi, I'm Ayakim!Let’s keep moving forward with our Korean language journey. In our last lesson, we looked at how Hangul, the Korean alphabet, is made.If you haven’t read it yet, be sure to start here → Hangeul in 30 Minutes : A Beginner’s...

Introduction: Why Starting with the Alphabet Makes Everything Easier Recently got into BTS? Can’t stop thinking about Squid Game?Korean pop culture is full of amazing content—and once you’re hooked, you probably find yourself thinki...

“Selca (셀카)” Means Selfie in K-POP Culture “Selca” is short for Self Camera. In Korean, 셀프 카메라 (self camera) is shortened to 셀카.The meaning is simply “selfie.” It’s not only used by idols—everyone in Korea uses the word selca in...

Hi, it’s Ayaka here 👋 Today, I put together a helpful list of essential K-POP stan vocabulary— the words every fan eventually learns while falling deeper into the fandom. This guide includes:✔︎ English slang commonly used in internation...

Have you ever wondered if there’s a Korean version of “OT7” or “OT8”? Actually, expressions like OT7 / OT8 / OT9 are mainly used by international K-POP fans.Korean fans usually use the word “올팬 (olpaen)”, pronounced like “all-fan.” Tod...

K-POP fans often use expressions like OT7, OT8, or OT9 on social media.If you’re new to the fandom, you might think, “What are these numbers?!”Don’t worry — here’s a simple guide to what OT means and how fans use it. What Does OT7 / OT8 ...

Today, I’m going to introduce how to say “oshi / favorite member” in Korean. When I went to a concert in Seoul for the first time, someone asked me during a photocard trade:“최애(チェエ) who?” — and I completely froze. I had studied Kore...

Hi, it’s Ayakim!Today, let’s learn another common K-POP fandom term. Have you ever experienced your bias’s comeback season?As the release date gets closer, timelines on X (Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok get more and more excited.And amo...

If you’ve spent any time on K-POP Twitter or TikTok, you’ve probably seen phrases like “I stan BTS” or “She’s a NewJeans stan.”This little word “stan” shows up everywhere in fan culture—but what does it actually mean?Let’s take a closer ...

Today, I’ll introduce the concept of the Visual Member in K-POP. Although all K-POP idols have attractive looks, the member with especially outstanding visuals is called the “Visual.” In this article, I’ll explain the meaning and role of...

Have you ever heard the word “chiccam” (직캠) in the K-POP fandom?If you’re new to K-POP, you might be thinking:“What on earth is a chiccam?!”Don’t worry—today I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about chiccams! The Meaning...

If you’ve been into K-POP for a while, you’ve probably heard the word “팬사” (paen-sa) floating around.And let’s be real—every fan has dreamed at least once about going to one. In this post, I’ll walk you through what a fansign actually ...

Learning Korean while working full-time is a marathon, not a sprint. In my previous article, I shared how busy adults can carve out study time amidst a hectic schedule.  How to Learn Korean While Working a Full-Time Job (Even If You’re B...

Why Learning Korean Feels So Hard with a Full-Time Job Let’s be honest.After a full day of work, studying Korean feels impossible. You might be thinking: “I’m already exhausted from my job.”“I want to understand my bias, but I end up scr...

Hi, it’s Ayakim 👋Today, we’re learning how to say “is not / are not” in Korean. Previously, we learned the affirmative forms: Noun + 입니다 (“~ is” / formal) Noun + 이에요/예요 (“~ is” / polite spoken) If you haven’t reviewed those yet ...

Starting last week, our full Korean grammar series has officially begun! Previously, we looked at the three basic verb styles in Korean: 합니다 (hamnida) style 해요 (haeyo) style 한다 (handa) style We covered them in this article: Korean...

Hi, it’s Ayakim here.Starting today, let’s begin learning Korean grammar step by step. You might be thinking:“Ugh, grammar is boring!”“Isn’t it faster to just memorize phrases?” I get it — but trust me, knowing grammar helps you read and...

When you meet another K-POP fan, being able to introduce yourself in Korean is super cute — and it helps the conversation flow naturally ✨Whether you’re at a concert, a fan event, or chatting on SNS, these simple phrases will help you t...

When you start learning Korean, greetings are the first step.“안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo)” is the classic one, but did you know that there are different ways to greet depending on the situation? In this article, you’ll learn 15 useful Ko...

Hi, this is Ayakim!Today we’re finally diving into batchim (받침) — the final consonants in Korean syllables.For many beginners, this is one of the biggest hurdles.But once you get past it, you’ll be able to read every Korean word, inclu...

Hello, this is Ayakim.Today’s topic is Basic Korean Consonants (자음). There are 19 consonants in Hangul: Basic consonants: 10 Aspirated consonants (pronounced with a strong burst of air): 4 Tense consonants (pronounced wi...

Hello, this is Ayakim.Today’s topic is all about double vowels in Korean. In our last lesson, we looked at how Hangul, the Korean alphabet, is made.If you haven’t read it yet, be sure to start here. Hangeul in 30 Minutes : A Beginner’s G...