[Korean Culture & Language] I flexed today



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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcJ10kX9sgk

Business-class and first-class flights used to be for wealthier people in the past. However, more consumers today value 나심비, which means that they are willing to pay more for better services and products. Consumers today ‘buy’ comfort and joy.

With the increase in the number of 나심비 consumers in Korea, ‘premium economy class(프리미엄 이코노미 클래스)’ has become increasingly popular in 2019. Even though it provides only a little more legroom compared to economy seats, it usually includes business-class-style services with better facilities and convenience to suffice these consumers. 

If you are still a student and wasn’t born to a rich family, however, buying a ‘프리미엄 이코노미 클래스’ ticket could be a “플렉스”. 

플렉스 comes from the English expression "flexing". Even though flexing is often criticized and considered arrogant and insincere in the states, the word doesn’t have a negative connotation in Korean. That’s probably because “플렉스” in Korean means “to spend extravagantly for a special occasion,” implying that it is not what someone does every day. So when someone says, “나 방금 애플워치에 플렉스 했어 (I just splurged $400 on an apple watch),” a natural response would be to congratulate them.

FLEX 짤 - 짤봇

https://jjalbot.com/beta/tags/FLEX


Because not everyone is rich enough to 플렉스 every day, 일점호화현상 occurs.
일점호화현상 is a phenomenon where a consumer spends extravagantly on one thing while they spend minimally on everything else. For example, if someone eats ramen every day (ramen is one of the cheapest food in Korea) but drives a Mercedes, that is 일점호화현상.


Even though 플렉스 or 일점호화현상 is more socially accepted in Korea, “허세” is not. The closest English words for 허세 are ‘bragging’ or ‘pretentiousness’. 허세 is usually bragging about an ability or possessions they don’t actually have. Especially because humility is highly expected in Korea, 허세남(a guy who brags a lot) or 허세녀(a girl who brags a lot) can be judged and frowned upon. 

You can say: “허세 부리지 마” when someone keeps bragging about their things or skills they don’t have. You can It can also be used jokingly.


Even though it’s more accepted today than in the past to 플렉스 and it can be a healthy treat for yourself sometimes, there's a fine line between freedom and irresponsibility. The reason for 플렉스-ing shouldn’t be for 허세. We should also spend cautiously so we don’t end up having a 텅장.

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