Recent news about a packaged kimchi product released in Japan labeled with the Korean slang expression ‘gaejonmat’, meaning ‘very delicious’ has sparked debates among Korean netizens. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 13 (Korea Bizwire) – Recent news about a packaged kimchi product released in Japan labeled with the Korean slang expression ‘gaejonmat’, meaning ‘very delicious’ has sparked debates among Korean netizens.
Some netizens argue that the use of slang, especially for product labels, should be restrained, while others believe it’s acceptable since ‘gaejonmat’ is commonly used.
According to posts on social media and online communities on Thursday, there have been several uploads about a kimchi product labeled as ‘Gaejonmat Kimchi’ being released in Japan.
These posts were accompanied by a photo featuring the packaged kimchi product with the label ‘Gaejonmat Kimchi’ in Korean.
In the product image, a man is shown holding a bowl of kimchi, with text that reads, ‘Mom, you don’t have to send me kimchi.’
The expression ‘gaejonmat’ is frequently used among young people and is prevalent not only on social media and online communities but also on YouTube and TV programs.
This news has elicited mixed responses online. Some argue that it’s inappropriate to use slang as a product name, while others believe that since the expression is part of everyday language, it’s suitable for a product name.
Certain netizens expressed negative opinions, stating, “The maker needs to self-reflect. It’s shameful to use slang for a product released overseas,” “This reflects the language level of today’s Korean people,” and “Self-reflection is necessary.”
Contrastingly, others found it amusing and attention-grabbing, commenting, “It’s funny and catches the eye. It appears to have had a good PR effect,” and “It’s something you can laugh off. No need to take it too seriously.”
Amidst the controversy, Tenmasa Matsushita, the food company behind the product, issued an apology for using inappropriate language. The company went on to state that it would change the product name as soon as possible in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on October 9.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
