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[Anchor] Lately you may have noticed unfamiliar words like ‘밤티’ (bamti) and ‘야르’ (yar) popping up on social media. These slang terms are spreading among Gen Z—roughly mid‑teens to people in their 20s—and phrases that aren’t easy to parse at a glance are becoming content in their own right. This is Ittaggeum. [Reporter] Let’s try it—’yar!’ Today’s mukbang features Yeopgi tteokbokki—’yar.’ The exclamation ‘yar’ conveys excitement; it roughly means “I’m thrilled” or “woo‑hoo.” Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2011 and fluent with short‑form platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, quickly popularized the term and turned it into everything from mukbang catchphrases to challenge trends. ‘Bamti’—used to describe something tacky, awkward, or unattractive—started as an avatar name in an online game before spreading through forums and social channels. People use it to call out clumsy or underwhelming situations, and it has even been commercialized: sellers have marketed a misshapen bread as a “bamti” loaf. “At this age, the visuals are such a GOAT. Whoever becomes my concubine will be LuckyViki,” read one social post, underscoring the playful, often opaque nature of these expressions. As slang grows harder to decode, media coverage sometimes shows older generations attempting to mimic what’s been labeled “Gen‑Z‑eo.” Unlike older buzzwords such as “menbung” (mental breakdown) and “daebak” (awesome), which carried clear meanings, the latest terms that spread through short videos depend more on sound, tone and meme context than on literal definition. Nam Gil‑im, a professor of Korean Language and Literature at Yonsei University, says, “They use language creatively and playfully. When existing words feel insufficient—especially for describing appearance—people invent stronger expressions.” Experts caution that while these new words add playfulness to digital conversation, they can also exclude older people who aren’t immersed in online culture or slide into excessive derogation. This is Ittaggeum for Yonhap News TV. [Video source: Coupang Play YouTube channel; TikTokman, Ttitto, DESSERTING] [Video editing: Jin Hwa‑in] [Graphics: Lee Eun‑byul] Yonhap News TV story tips and inquiries: KakaoTalk/LINE jebo23. Ittaggeum (ouch@yna.co.kr)
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