5 Popular Male Archetypes Seen In Korean Media

 What type of guy would you say is your style?

Today we're going to introduce you to 5 of the most popular types of men in Korea, plus Korean vocabulary you can use.

Chadonam
차도남

Chadonam (차도남) is an abbreviation of "chagaun dosi namja" (차가운 도시 남자) which means "cool city man". It refers to a man who seems cold and aloof on the outside, but on the inside is warm and caring. This look is generally associated with men who are wealthy and lead a life of luxury.

The term was originally popularized by a webtoon in which the protagonist says "난 차가운 도시 남자, 하지만 내 여자에게는 따뜻하겠지" (I'm a cool city man, but to my woman I'll be warm). He gives this line while holding a glass of wine and gazing out at the night cityscape.

Since then, the word Chadonam has become a popular buzzword among teenagers and young adults.

Lee Min-ho's character Gu Jun-pyo from Boys Over Flowers was voted number 1 Chadonam in Korea. Although outwardly he was cold and hard to approach, under that facade he was always warm and devoted to protecting the heroine.

In addition, Park Seo-joon's image in What's Wrong With Secretary Kim? has been dubbed as the epitome of this style. This CEO character is cold and stylish, but always warm for his lady.

Kkadonam
까도남

Kkadonam (까도남) stands for "kkachilhago dodohan namj" (까칠하고 도도한 남자) which means a "rude and arrogant man".

This kind of guy is also cool and stylish, but even more unapproachable.

A good example of this type of man is Hyun Bin's character Kim Joo-won in Secret Garden. At first glance, he is handsome, rich, and conceited, but we then see he has a way of expressing his feelings in a way that is as cool as his appearance, making many people fall for him.

Hunnam
훈남

Hunnam (훈남) is a word that refers to a man who is handsome with a warm and gentle image.

Originally, the word referred to men who were not conventionally handsome, but were charming and sincere, becoming more attractive the more you got to know them, but over time it has changed.

One example would be the warm and charming Daesung of BIGBANG. His friendly personality and vocals captured the hearts of many.

Soccer legend Park Ji-sung is another man who possesses the qualities of a Hunnam.

And another good example would be the handsome gentleman Gong Yoo. 

Kkotminam
꽃미남

Kkotminam (꽃미남) is short for "kkotcheoreom aju yeppeun namja" (꽃처럼 아주 예쁜 남자) meaning "a man as pretty as a flower".

When it comes to Kkotminam, three names often come up: Song Joong-ki, Park Bo-gum, and BTS's V. 

And with very good reason! Their beautiful features make even girls jealous!

Jimseungdol
짐승돌

Jimseungdol (짐승돌) is a combination of the words "jimseung", meaing beast, and idol. It refers to male idols with a wild side.

They tend to have a mysterious charm, a darker and sexier concept than some other idol groups.

This category would include 2PM, BIGBANG's TOP, MBLAQ, and BEAST.

This concludes our post on male archetypes commonly seen in Korea.

Which style suits you most? Let us know in the comments!