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BADASS KOREAN

Korean Pop Culture · KOREAN SLANG

강남스타일

gang-nam seu-ta-il

uptown style

What does 강남스타일 mean?

uptown style.

Popularized by the Korean superstar, Psy in his hit song, “Gangnam Style” is a commentary on how people dress and act on the sassy “uptown” side of Seoul. People that frequent its “Rodeo drive” of name-brand stores and overpriced coffee shops are often focused on external appearances, conspicuous consumption and an ostentatious show of wealth rather than more important things. The song is a satire of their dapper styles and muddled materialistic sensibilities.

한국의 슈퍼스타 싸이의 노래제목과 같아 대중화되었다. 강남스타일은 서울의 생기 넘치 는 “업타운” 지역에서, 사람들이 입고 행동하는 것에 대한 논평이다. 유명브랜드가게와 비 싼 커피숍이 즐비한 “로데오거리”를 자주 다니는 사람들은 그들의 부를 자랑하기 위해 흔 히 그들의 외모, 패션, 그리고 과시적인 라이프스타일에 전념한다. 노래는 그들의 치장과 혼란스러운 물질주의 감정에 대한 풍자이다.

From the original card

Popularized by the Korean superstar Psy in his hit song, Gangnam Style is a satire of how people dress and act on the sassy uptown side of Seoul.

From the published Badass Korean archive. Slang depends on the relationship and setting; historical explanations and origin stories have not been newly reviewed. Some cards include profanity, insults, or sexual language.

Listen & watch

강남스타일 — uptown style; original illustrated Korean slang flashcard
Original illustrated card · View full size ↗

See it in conversation

Read the original Korean dialogue alongside its published English version.

  원샷과 쇼트 스커트  
Psy 근혜씨, 축하해! 방금 당선됐어! 이제 뭘 할거야?
GeunHye 우선, 이 $12짜리 커피 마시고 로데오에 가서 프라다 좀 사려고…
Psy 아싸! 원샷! 그게 진정한 강남스타일! 그리고 나서는?
GeunHye 그리고 나서 “강남스타일”을 금지할거야!
Psy 뭐?! 내 노래를? 나의 이 기막힌 춤을? 내 간지스타일?
GeunHye 아니지, 오빠. 난 오빠 노래 무지 좋아해, 그게 아니라 fashion police 불렀다고! 짧은 치마 입은 애들 다 잡아야지!
Psy 안돼~~~
그건 내가 제일 좋아하는 거라고! 그건 아주 강남답지 못해!
  One Shot and Too Short  
싸이 GeunHye shi, Congrats! You just got elected!
What will you do next?
 
근혜 First, I’m going to throw back this $12 coffee and head to Rodeo to buy some Prada.…  
싸이 Ah-SA! One Shot! That’s very Gangnam Style of you! And then?  
근혜 I’m going to ban “Gangnam Style!”  
싸이 What?! Ban my song? My super fabulous dance?
My ganji style?
 
끈혜 No, Oppa. I love your song, but I’ve called out the fashion police!
Those short skirts have got to go!
 
싸이 Noooooo, that’s my favorite part! That’s not very Gangnam of you!  

Get the Straight Scoop with explanations of uncommon words and unusual usage.

원샷 [one-shot] a call to “shoot it!” A common Korean practice of shooting generally smaller glasses of beer, soju or boilermakers, similar to “bottoms up.”
아싸 [ah-SA] awesome or thrilling; an exclamation of utter delight.
오빠 [o-bba] big brother (only from a girl). See page 49 and 130.