Korean Culture & Customs

짬

jjam

army seniority

Army slang is a culture of its own. 짬 (from 짬밥, mess-hall food) means accumulated service time, hence seniority; 갈구다 means to nag or harass a junior; 굴리다 means to work someone hard. Veterans often slip these into civilian life.

Examples

Korean	English
저 선임은 짬이 높아서 아무도 못 건드려요. jeo seon-im-eun jjam-i nopaseo amudo mot geondeuryeoyo.	That senior has high seniority, so no one can touch him.

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