How to Film a Legendary K-Pop Fancam: The A-to-Z Guide to Gear, Shooting, and Editing

Hello! This is Sunny from K-Music Note.

Have you ever seen a comment like, "Look at the tteok-bap for my choe-ae, what a legend!" and just nodded along, completely lost? The world of K-Pop is filled with a unique and witty language of its own. At first, it might sound like a secret code, but once you learn it, it’s a magic language that makes enjoying K-Pop a hundred times more fun. Today, for everyone who wants to evolve from a "Muggle" to a "Seong-deok," I've prepared the ultimate guide to 50 essential fandom terms you absolutely need to know!

Part 1. Your Fandom Citizenship: Beginner & Basic Terms

These are the absolute fundamentals. Master these, and you'll understand half of all fan conversations.

• Deok-jil (덕질): The act of being a fan. Refers to all activities involved in supporting your favorite group.
• Ip-deok (입덕): "Entering the fandom." The moment you officially become a fan of a group.
• Tal-deok (탈덕): "Leaving the fandom." To stop being a fan.
• Hyu-deok (휴덕): "Resting from the fandom." A temporary break from fan activities (unlike Tal-deok, you'll likely be back).
• Muggle (머글): From Harry Potter. A non-fan or a member of the general public.
• Choe-ae (최애): Your ultimate bias. The one member you love the most in a group.
• Cha-ae (차애): Your second favorite member, or your "bias wrecker."
• Seong-deok (성덕): A "successful fan." A fan who gets to meet their idol or succeeds in a related career.
• Eo-deok-haeng-deok (어덕행덕): An acronym for "Since I'm a fan anyway, I'm going to be a happy fan." A fandom motto.
• Ip-deok-bu-jeong-gi (입덕부정기): "Pre-fandom denial period." The stage where you deny you're becoming a fan, even though you totally are.

Part 2. The Main Event: Fan Activities & Concert Terms

Terms you'll encounter when supporting your idols in the wild.

• Gong-bang (공방): "Public broadcast." Attending a live music show recording as a fan.
• Sa-nok (사녹): "Pre-recording." The part of a music show that is filmed before the live broadcast.
• Yeok-jo-gong (역조공): A "reverse tribute," where idols give gifts or food to fans waiting for them.
• Chong-gong (총공): "General attack." When a fandom organizes to stream a song or vote en masse to raise chart positions.
• Seu-ming (스밍): "Streaming." The act of repeatedly streaming a song to help it on the music charts.
• Pi-keting (피케팅): "Blood ticketing." Describes the brutal, war-like process of trying to buy concert tickets.
• Chwi-keting (취케팅): "Cancel ticketing." The act of trying to grab tickets that were bought and then canceled by others.
• Peul-mi (플미): "Premium." A scalped ticket sold for a much higher price. (Never buy these!)
• Paen-ssa (팬싸): A fan signing event.
• Yeong-tong-paen-ssa (영통팬싸): A video call fan signing event.

Insider's Tip: The term "Deok-jil" comes from the word "deok-hu," the Korean version of "otaku." While otaku can sometimes have a negative connotation, "deok-jil" is used proudly in Korea to describe passionate engagement in any hobby, especially K-Pop!

Part 3. All About the Chemistry: Member & Relationship Terms

Words to describe the members' roles and their dynamics.

• Center (센터): The member who is often in the center position during performances. A symbolic role.
• Visual (비주얼): The member considered to be the official face or most classically handsome/beautiful member of the group.
• Mak-nae (막내): The youngest member of the group.
• Mat-hyeong/Mat-eon-ni (맏형/맏언니): The oldest member of the group (male/female).
• Chemi (케미): Short for "chemistry." Refers to the great dynamic between two or more members.
• Jo-hap (조합): A "combination" or "unit" of specific members. (e.g., the "visual line" or the "dance line").
• Hoe-jeon-mun (회전문): "Revolving door." The phenomenon of your bias changing constantly within the same group.
• Choe-ae-line (최애라인): Your personal lineup of favorite members within a group.
• Sil-se (실세): The "real power" or "influencer" of the group, regardless of age or official position.
• Ip-deok Yo-jeong (입덕 요정): The "fandom-entry fairy." The member known for having a charm that attracts new fans to the group.

Part 4. My Poor Wallet: Album & Goods Terms

A vital part of fan life: the merchandise!

• Po-ka (포카): "Photocard." The small, collectible photo of a member that comes randomly with albums.
• Dragon Ball (드래곤볼): The act of collecting all the different photocards from an album series, named after the anime.
• Mi-gong-po (미공포): "Unreleased photocard." Exclusive photocards given as a pre-order benefit from specific retailers.
• Ael-beom-kkang (앨범깡): "Album-breaking." The act of opening many albums at once in search of a specific photocard.
• Bun-cheol (분철): "Disassembly." When a group of fans buys a magazine together and divides the pages by member.
• Goods (굿즈): Official or unofficial merchandise, from light sticks to clothing.
• MD: Short for 'merchandise,' usually referring to official goods.
• Gong-gut/Bi-gong-gut (공굿/비공굿): Official Goods / Unofficial (fan-made) Goods.
• Teuk-jeon (특전): A "special gift" or "benefit," like a poster or extra photocard for first-press albums.
• Hye-ja (혜자): Used to describe merch that is packed with content and well worth the price.

Part 5. The Language of Love: New Slang & Expressions

Creative words that fans use to express their feelings.

• Ju-jeop (주접): Wild, over-the-top, often cringey compliments paid to an idol, meant as the highest form of praise.
• Ppong Cha-o-reun-da (뽕 차오른다): A feeling of overwhelming pride or emotion for your favorite group.
• Tteok-bap (떡밥): "Rice cake bait." Any new content—photos, videos, news—for fans to enjoy.
• Gung-ye (궁예): "Speculation." The act of fans theorizing about comebacks or analyzing idol behavior.
- Chak-jeup (착즙): "Squeezing juice." When fans find deep meaning in a small, possibly meaningless action by an idol.

Gwang-gi (광기): "Madness" or "insanity." Used in a positive way to describe incredible passion or talent.

O-yeol (오열): "Sobbing." A dramatic way to say you're extremely moved or happy about something.

Pom Mi-chyeot-da (폼 미쳤다): "His/Her form is insane." A top-tier compliment for when an idol's performance or visuals are at their absolute peak.

~se-kwon (~세권): A suffix meaning a convenient area. (e.g., "Star-se-kwon" for an area near a Starbucks).

Sa-bul (사불): "Cyber-bullying." Used within fandoms to describe when fans dogpile on someone with a different opinion.

A Cautionary Tale: The word "Ju-jeop" originally had a negative meaning in Korean, but within fandom culture, it's been completely reclaimed as the ultimate form of praise! Like this, fandom language is always evolving. Don't be afraid to dive in and have fun with it!

The 3-Line Recap

• K-Pop fandom language ranges from basic terms like "Ip-deok" (becoming a fan) and "Choe-ae" (bias) to practical words for fan activities like "Pikketing" and "Seuming."
• Learning the terms in categories (Beginner, Activities, Members, Goods, Slang) makes the vast vocabulary much easier to understand.
• These terms are more than just slang; they are a key part of the culture that builds a sense of community. So use them with confidence!