📘 Table of Contents
- "SNL Korea" – Close Friends Fight: Introduction
- “SNL Korea” – “Close friends turning into enemies" Short Video
- Key Takeaways
- Show Overview & Characters
📢 This content contains strong Korean profanity, which may cause discomfort to some viewers.
🎥 "SNL Korea – “Close friends turning into enemies": Introduction
This
outrageous and fast-paced scene originates from a comedy skit on SNL Korea, a show renowned for pushing the boundaries of humor with raw language and
exaggerated characters. In this short, we’re thrown into the chaotic social
dynamic of a group of friends whose relationships are more tangled than a K-drama
love triangle.
As the
scene unfolds, we learn that Seul-gi’s boyfriend Won-hoon has been unemployed
for four years, which leads to an avalanche of roasting, slang, and playful
profanity from all sides. The banter is unapologetically crude, but that’s precisely
what makes it so real and so Korean.
If you're learning Korean and want to understand how close friends (especially in their 20s and 30s) talk—complete with sarcasm, blunt honesty, and rapid-fire swear words—this is a goldmine. You’ll also get a glimpse into how Korean humor is deeply rooted in context, culture, and a unique kind of verbal wit that somehow still conveys closeness and affection.
This sketch, which aired in early 2023, quickly went viral in Korea for its bold portrayal of female friendship dynamics and use of unfiltered profanity. While Western comedies also feature strong language among friends, Korean swearing often reflects cultural values like hierarchy, gender roles, and emotional closeness. Understanding this context is essential for learners who want to grasp real-life Korean.
A Practical Learning Guide
-
Learn how Koreans use profanity—words like "씨발년", "개년", "이 새끼" show up frequently in this scene. These are strong swear
words that should never be used casually, but they’re essential to
recognize when watching real Korean media or understanding local humor.
-
Cultural Symbolism with a Slang Twist: The Year of
the Rabbit (토끼의 해) becomes a sexual innuendo here.
In Korean, a “토끼” (rabbit) is sometimes used to tease
men who ejaculate too quickly, due to rabbits’ short mating time. It’s a
perfect example of how traditional cultural imagery is reinterpreted in modern
slang.
-
"담타" = "담배
타임": A contraction of “cigarette time,” this phrase is commonly used in
casual conversations, especially among smokers. It reflects how Koreans often
shorten phrases into two-syllable slang.
-
Female friendship dynamics: You’ll hear sharp
back-and-forth between Seul-gi and Hyeon-yeong that’s full of curses—but it's
not out of hatred. In Korean culture, female friends often use strong language
when joking or teasing, especially in casual, alcohol-fueled settings. However,
in this scene, even between close friends, if a joke crosses the line, it can
easily escalate into a serious fight.
- Korean
Male Roles & Unemployment: Calling someone a “백수”
(jobless person) isn’t just a factual statement—it can be an attack on one’s
masculinity, especially in dating contexts. In this scene, Seul-gi’s boyfriend
is roasted for being unemployed for four years. This reflects the societal
pressures on men in Korea to be financially stable.
-
How insult and affection blur: The string of insults (“독한
년”, “개년”, “씨발년”)
might seem shocking, but this is a textbook example of how Korean close friends
joke harshly. There’s a cultural nuance in how tone and context change the
meaning, sometimes even more important than the words themselves.
🎥 “SNL Korea” – “Close friends turning into enemies" Short Video
In the presence of a
boyfriend, close friends start hurling harsh profanity at each other, blaming
and attacking one another. The mood shifts suddenly and violently, creating an
exaggerated situation that ultimately elicits laughter.
Now let’s decode what phrases like "이 새끼" or "담타" really mean.
Dialogue
남자출연자1: “슬기씨 어때요? 원훈이 이 새끼 잘해줘요?”
"Seul-gi, what do you
think? Is this bastard Won-hoon treating you well?"
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "슬기씨":
"슬기 (name)" + "-씨 (polite suffix)"
- "어때요?":
"어떻다 (to be how)" + "-아요/어요” (polite ending)
➡️ “어떻다” = “어떠하다” + “-어요” → “어때요” (ㅎ-deletion)
- "원훈이":
"원훈 (name)" + "-이 (subject marker)"
- "이 새끼":
"이 (this)" + "새끼
(slang for jerk, bastard)"
- "잘해줘요?":
"잘하다 (to do well)" + "-아 주다 (to do something for someone)" + "-어요 (polite question ending)"
➡️ “잘하다” → “잘해주다” → “잘해줘요”
권혁수: “야 당연히 잘해야지 저 새끼 4년째 백수를 지내고 있잖아.”
"Hey, of course he
should treat her well. That bastard's been jobless for four years."
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "야":
"야 (hey, informal call)"
- "당연히":
"당연하다 (to be natural)" + "-히 (adverb suffix)"
- "잘해야지":
"잘하다 (to do well)" + "-아야 하다 (must)" + "-지 (sentence ending
for obviousness or agreement)"
➡️ “잘하다” → “잘해야 하다” → “잘해야
하지” → “잘해야지” (contraction)
- "저 새끼":
"저 (that)" + "새끼
(slang for jerk, bastard)"
- "4년째":
"4 (four)" + "년 (year)" + "-째 (indicating duration/continuity)"
- "백수를":
"백수 (jobless person)" + "-를 (object marker)"
- "지내고":
"지내다 (to live, to spend time)" + "-고 (connector)"
- "있잖아":
"있다 (to be)" + "-잖아 (you know, seeking agreement)"
(Joo Hyun-young laughs
loudly at the mention that Kim Seul-gi's boyfriend, Kim Won-hoon, is
unemployed.)
남자출연자2: “2023년도는 혁수의 해야.”
"2023 is the year of
Hyuk-soo."
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "2023년도는":
"2023년 (year 2023)" + "-도 (also, in this case functioning like a noun modifier)" +
"-는 (topic marker)"
- "혁수의":
"혁수 (name)" + "-의 (possessive marker)"
- "해야":
"해 (year of the animal in Chinese zodiac)" +
"-야 (copula, is)"
권혁수: “나, 왜?”
"Me, why?"
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "나":
"나 (I)"
- "왜?":
"왜 (why)?"
김원훈: “토끼, 토끼의 해잖아?”
"Rabbit, it's the
year of the rabbit, right?"
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "토끼":
"토끼 (rabbit)"
- "토끼의":
"토끼 (rabbit)" + "-의 (possessive marker)"
- "해잖아?":
"해 (year)" + "-잖아? (you know)" (question ending)"
(Kim Seul-gi laughs hard
at the mention of "rabbit." Hyuk-soo plays the boyfriend of Joo
Hyun-young.)
🐾 Rabbits mate very quickly. In Korea, men with premature
ejaculation are jokingly called "rabbits."
남자출연자1: “담타하고 올까 우리?”
"Shall we go for a
smoke break?"
🐾 "담타" is slang for "담배 타임 (cigarette time)."
📢 If you're interested in Korean slang, check out the following post.
📍 Korean Slang Decoded: 64 Must-Know Expressions to Speak Like a Local
김슬기: “현영아, 너도 다녀와. 나
혼자 있어도 돼. 아, 끊었어?”
"Hyun-young, you go
too. I’m fine alone. Oh, you quit?"
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "현영아":
"현영 (name)" + "-아 (vocative suffix)"
- "너도":
"너 (you)" + "-도
(also)"
- "다녀와":
"다녀오다 (to go and come back)" + imperative
casual ending
- "나":
"나 (I)"
- "혼자":
"혼자 (alone)"
- "있어도":
"있다 (to be)" + "-어도 (even if)"
- "돼":
"되다 (to be okay, become)" + casual ending
- "아":
interjection
- "끊었어?":
"끊다 (to quit)" + past tense "-었" + question ending "-어?"
김슬기: “아, 독한 년! 어떻게
그걸 끊냐?”
"Damn, tough bitch!
How did you quit that?"
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "아":
interjection
- "독한 년":
"독하다 (to be strong, intense)" + attributive “-ㄴ” + "년 (slang for woman, usually
derogatory)"
- "어떻게":
"어떻게 (how)"
- "그걸":
"그 (that)" + "-걸
(object form of 것)"
- "끊냐?":
"끊다 (to quit)" + "-냐 (question ending, informal)"
주현영: “도대체 왜 이러는 거야 이 씨불년이.”
"What the hell is
wrong with you, you crazy bitch?"
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "도대체":
"도대체 (what the hell, emphasis for
frustration)"
- "왜":
"왜 (why)"
- "이러는":
"이러다 (to behave this way)" + "-는 (modifier ending)"
✂️ "거야":
"것 (thing)" + "-이야 (to be, informal ending)"
- "이 씨불년이":
"이 (this)" + "씨불년 (slang variation of curse word 씨발년, meaning
‘bitch’)"
김슬기: “그냥 사실이잖아, 개년아.”
"It’s just the truth,
bitch."
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "그냥":
"그냥 (just, simply)"
- "사실이잖아":
"사실 (truth)" + "-이다 (to be)" + "-잖아 (you know)"
- "개년아":
"개년 (bitch, extremely offensive)" + "-아 (vocative informal suffix)"
주현영: “원훈씨는 슬기에 대해서 알고 싶은 거 없어요"?”
"Won-hoon, don't you
want to know anything about Seul-gi?"
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "원훈씨는":
"원훈 (name)" + "-씨 (polite suffix)" + "-는 (topic
marker)"
- "슬기에":
"슬기 (name)" + "-에 (locative marker)"
- "대해서":
"대하다 (to relate to)" + connective ending “-아서” → "대해서 (about, concerning)"
➡️✂️ “대하다” → “대하여서” → “대해서” (contraction)
- "알고":
"알다 (to know)" + "-고 (connector)"
- "싶은":
"싶다 (to want)" + "-은 (modifier)"
✂️ "거":
"것 (thing)"
- "없어요?":
"없다 (to not have)" + "-어요 (polite)" + question form
김원훈: “어 전 없어요.”
"Uh, no, I
don’t."
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "어":
"어 (uh, hesitation)"
✂️ "전":
"저 (I)" + "-는
(topic marker, contraction of 저는)"
- "없어요":
"없다 (to not have)" + "-어요 (polite)"
주현영: “슬기는요.”
"Seul-gi is/was ~"
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "슬기는요":
"슬기 (name)" + "-는 (topic marker)" + "-요 (polite
ending)"
김원훈: “없어요. 저는.”
"No. I don’t."
주현영: “정말 대단했어요. 그 어릴 때부터 해외로 봉사활동을 다녔는데 아셨어요?”
"She was really
amazing. Did you know she did volunteer work overseas from a young age?"
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "정말":
"정말 (really)"
- "대단했어요":
"대단하다 (to be great)" + past tense "-았" + "-어요 (polite)"
➡️ “대단하다” → “대단했다” → “대단했어요”
- "그":
"그 (that)"
- "어릴 때부터":
"어리다 (to be young)" + "-ㄹ 때 (when)" + "-부터 (from)"
- "해외로":
"해외 (overseas)" + "-로 (directional particle)"
- "봉사활동을":
"봉사활동 (volunteer work)" + "-을 (object marker)"
- "다녔는데":
"다니다 (to go regularly)" + past tense "-었" + "-는데 (background
connector)"
➡️ “다니다” → “다녔다” → “다녔는데”
- "아셨어요?":
"알다 (to know)" + honorific "-시" + past tense "-었" + "-어요 (polite question)"
➡️✂️ “알다” → “아시다” (honorific)
→ “아시었다” (past tense) → “아셨다”
(contraction) → “아셨어요”
주현영: “어 진짜로 막 미국 남자, 러시아 남자, 가나? 가나 남자 맞지?”
"Yeah, really—like
American men, Russian men, Ghana? Ghanaian men, right?"
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "어":
"어 (yeah)"
- "진짜로":
"진짜 (real)" + "-로 (manner particle)"
- "막":
"막 (like, randomly, informally)"
- "미국 남자":
"미국 (America)" + "남자 (man)"
- "러시아 남자":
"러시아 (Russia)" + "남자 (man)"
- "가나?":
"가나 (Ghana)" + question intonation
- "가나 남자":
"가나 (Ghana)" + "남자 (man)"
- "맞지?":
"맞다 (to be correct)" + "-지? (seeking agreement)"
주현영: “맞지? 그러니까 우리 슬기는 큰 사람 좋아했던 거 같아요.”
"Right? So I think
our Seul-gi liked big guys."
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "맞지?":
"맞다 (to be right)" + "-지? (question ending)"
- "그러니까":
"그러니까 (so, therefore)"
- "우리":
"우리 (our)"
- "슬기는":
"슬기 (name)" + "-는 (topic marker)"
- "큰 사람":
"크다 (to be big)" + "사람 (person)"
- "좋아했던":
"좋아하다 (to like)" + past tense "-았" + modifier "-던"
➡️ “좋아하다” → “좋아했다” → “좋아했던”
- "거 같아요":
"것 같다 (to seem like)" + "-아요 (polite ending)"
🐾 It’s a sexual joke.
📢 If you're interested in ambiguous expressions in Korean, read the post below.
📍 Understanding Korean Ambiguity: A Guide to the Beauty of Multilayered Expressions
김슬기: “못하는 말이 없네. 씨발년이.”
"She says whatever
she wants. Fucking bitch."
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "못하는 말이":
"못하다 (to not be able to do)" + attributive “-는” (present tense) + "말 (words)" +
"-이 (subject marker)"
- "없네":
"없다 (to not have)" + "-네 (exclamatory ending)"
- "씨발년이":
"씨발 (fucking)" + "년 (bitch)" + "-이 (subject
marker)"
주현영: “네가 먼저 시작했잖아 씨발년아.”
"You started it,
fucking bitch."
🔍 분석
(Analysis)
- "네가":
"너 (you)" + "-가
(subject marker)"
- "먼저":
first, beforehand, before others
- "시작했잖아":
"시작하다 (to start)" + past tense "-었" + "-잖아 (you know)"
➡️ “시작하다” → “시작했다” → “시작했잖아”
- "씨발년아":
"씨발 (fucking)" + "년 (bitch)" + "-아 (vocative)"
🎯 Key Takeaways
📢 Explanations of basic dictionary definitions have been omitted.
1. "새끼"
- "새끼" originally means "offspring of an animal."
🐾 In everyday usage,
however, it is more commonly used as a curse word to insult someone
when angry or disrespectful. While it can be used jokingly among close friends,
it remains a highly offensive expression and should never be used in formal
situations.
📌 Example Usage
"이 새끼 진짜 왜 저래?"
"What the hell is wrong with this guy?"
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"놈" – "guy, bastard" (context-dependent, also rude)
📌 Example Usage
"그 놈이 나한테 사기쳤어."
"That bastard scammed me."
2. "백수"
- "백수" means "unemployed person" and is a casual, slightly
negative term.
🐾 Literally, it comes
from "백
(white)" and "수 (hand)," metaphorically
implying hands with nothing to do.
📌 Example Usage
"원훈이는 4년째 백수야."
"Wonhoon has been unemployed for four years."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"무직자" – "a person without a job" (formal)
📌 Example Usage
"그는 현재 무직자 상태입니다."
"He is currently unemployed."
3. "해" (ex. "토끼의 해")
- "해" means "year," especially about the zodiac.
- "토끼의 해" means "the year of the rabbit," based on the
Chinese zodiac system.
📌 Example Usage
"2023년은 토끼의 해야."
"2023 is the year of the rabbit."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"띠" – "zodiac sign"
📌 Example Usage
"내 띠는 호랑이야."
"My zodiac sign is the tiger."
4. "담타하다"
- "담타하다" is a slang term that means "let’s take a cigarette
break" or more literally, "let’s have a cigarette time." It can
be interpreted as "let’s go smoke a cigarette."
5. "담배를 끊다"
- "담배": cigarette
- "-를": object particle
- "끊다": to quit, to stop doing something
📌 Example Usage
"올해는 꼭 담배를 끊고 싶어."
"This year, I really want to quit smoking."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"금연하다" – "to stop smoking"
📌 Example Usage
"아버지는 작년에 금연에 성공하셨다."
"My father successfully quit smoking last year."
6. "독한 년"
- "독하다": to be intense, harsh, or strong
- "년": extremely vulgar term for a woman
- Combined, "독한 년" means "a vicious bitch" and is a very offensive
insult
📌 Example Usage
"저 독한 년 때문에 망했어."
"That vicious bitch ruined everything."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"센 여자" – "a tough woman" (less vulgar)
📌 Example Usage
"그 여자는 진짜 센 캐릭터야."
"She's a really tough character."
7. "씨불년 / 씨발년"
- "씨발년" is a highly offensive term used to insult a woman with strong
profanity.
- "씨불년" is a softened or distorted version of "씨발년," used to lessen the directness of the curse.
📌 Example Usage
"아, 진짜 저 씨불년 때문에 열받아."
"Damn, that bitch really pissed me off."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"미친년" – "crazy bitch" (also offensive)
📌 Example Usage
"그 미친년 또 뭐라고 했어?"
"What did that crazy bitch say this time?"
8. "개년"
- "개": dog (used here as an intensifier or pejorative prefix)
- "년": derogatory term for a woman
- "개년" is a harsh insult, similar in tone to "damn bitch"
📌 Example Usage
"그 개년 진짜 미친 거 아냐?"
"That damn bitch is seriously crazy, isn’t she?"
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"개같은 여자" – "a woman like a dog" (insulting tone)
📌 Example Usage
"그는 전 여친을 개같은 여자라고
욕했다."
"He cursed at his ex calling her a bitch."
9. "대단하다"
- "대단하다" means "to be great" or "to be amazing"
and can express admiration or sarcasm depending on tone.
📌 Example Usage
"진짜 대단하다, 너."
"Wow, you’re really something."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"훌륭하다" – "to be excellent"
📌 Example Usage
"그의 연주는 정말 훌륭했다."
"His performance was truly excellent."
10. "해외 봉사활동"
- "해외": overseas
- "봉사활동": volunteer work
- "해외 봉사활동" means "volunteer work done abroad"
📌 Example Usage
"대학 때 해외 봉사활동을
다녀왔어."
"I did overseas volunteer work when I was in college."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"국제 자원봉사" – "international volunteering"
📌 Example Usage
"국제 자원봉사단에 참여했어요."
"I joined an international volunteer group."
11. "큰 사람을 좋아하다"
- "큰 사람": literally "big person," metaphorically used to
describe someone of big heart, ambition, or high status
- "-을": object marker
- "좋아하다": to like, to have feelings for
📌 Example Usage
"나는 원래 큰 사람을 좋아해."
"I’ve always liked people with big dreams."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"포부 있는 사람을 좋아하다" – "to like someone ambitious"
📌 Example Usage
"그녀는 포부 있는 남자를
좋아한다."
"She likes men with ambition."
12. "못하는 말이 없다"
- "못하다": to be unable to do
- "-는": attributive ending
- "말": words, speech
- "-이 없다": there is none
- Together, "못하는 말이 없다" means "There’s nothing they can’t say" or
"They say everything freely"
📌 Example Usage
"쟨 진짜 못하는 말이 없어."
"He really says whatever he wants."
🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions
"입이 험하다" – "to have a foul mouth"
📌 Example Usage
"그는 입이 험해서 조심해야
해."
"Be careful, he has a sharp tongue."
🎥 "SNL Korea" Show Overview & Characters
📢 Please refer to other posts in the K-Slang category on the blog for
introductions to cast members and “SNL Korea.”
🔖 Learn Korean Slang with SNL Korea: Ji Ye-eun’s Hilarious Curse-Filled Skit
🔖 Korean Humor and Dirty Jokes Decoded: What SNL Korea Can Teach You
🔖
Anger in Korean: Breakdown of SNL Korea’s Viral Skit with Full Dialogue and Vocabulary
Besides the
post mentioned above, you’ll find many more posts available, so be sure to
explore other content in the K-Slang category.
){kind=link}
0 Comments