Customers on Aug. 6, 2024, look at the selection of ramyeon (instant noodles) at a convenience store in Seoul. (Yonhap News)

By Koh Hyunjeong

The Oxford English Dictionary of the U.K. has added the terms ramyeon (instant noodles), haenyeo, or female divers on Jeju Island, seonbae, a senior or someone of a higher rank or experience, and five other Korean words.

Jieun Kiaer (Cho Ji-eun), a professor of Korean linguistics at the University of Oxford's Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, on Jan. 7 said the other five words added were bingsu (shaved ice dessert), jjimjilbang (public sauna), ajumma (middle-aged or older woman), Korean barbeque and officetel (studio apartment).

This marks the second consecutive year for Korean words to be added to the dictionary, following seven last year including dalgona (honeycomb candy), maknae, or the youngest member of a family or group, and tteokbokki (spicy rice cake). This reflects the surging global popularity of Korean since the 2000s fueled by the spread of Hallyu (Korean Wave).

Kiaer said a word entered into the dictionary stays permanently even if a word falls out of use over time, stressing the importance of leaving traces of Korean culture in the global language of English.

First published in 1884, the Oxford English Dictionary is now on an online platform and revised on a regular basis.

hjkoh@korea.kr