South Korean Culture Boosts Korean Language Use in Japan

South Korean cultural exports are influencing everyday language among young people in Japan, where Korean expressions have become increasingly visible in social media trends, television advertising and popular culture. The shift reflects the growing influence of K-pop, Korean television dramas and South Korean beauty products.

The trend is appearing in products and entertainment created in Japan. Examples include instant ramen packaging featuring Korean-language labels, television dramas with Korean-speaking leading characters and tea advertisements featuring Korean expressions.

This growing popularity marks a striking historical contrast. A century ago, during Japan's colonial rule over Korea, Koreans faced pressure to adopt Japanese language and identity while suppressing their own cultural traditions.

Today, the cultural influence is moving in the opposite direction, with Korean vocabulary finding a place in conversations among younger Japanese people.

Moeka Takamatsu, a 21-year-old university student and K-pop fan in Tokyo, said she regularly incorporates Korean expressions into everyday conversations. Words such as jinjja, meaning really, and mianhae, meaning sorry, have become part of her vocabulary.

Social media trends have also influenced her use of Korean expressions, even without extensive knowledge of the country or its language.

"Even though I don't know anything about Korea, I find myself saying gwenchana quite often since it's a trend on social media," Takamatsu said.

She made the remarks during an evening visit to a neighborhood in Shinjuku known for its concentration of Korean restaurants and cosmetics stores. The area, Shin-Okubo, has historically been recognized as Tokyo's Koreatown.

The spread of Korean expressions in Japan illustrates the reach of South Korea's entertainment and consumer industries beyond the country's borders. K-pop, television productions and beauty products have helped introduce Korean words to audiences who encounter them through everyday media and popular trends.