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Korean · Stadiums & PC Bangs

대~한민국! (짝짝 짝 짝짝)

daehanminguk

DEH-hahn-meen-GOOK · /tɛ.han.min.ɡuk̚/

KO-RE-A! — the national chant, complete with its mandatory clap pattern.

1/5 Grandma-safe

mild, playful; fine on daytime TV

Literally

"Republic of Korea (+ five claps)"

Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.

How to use it

Forged in the 2002 World Cup, when the Red Devils supporters taught an entire nation one rhythm: 대~한민국! followed by exactly five claps (clap-clap, clap, clap-clap). Twenty-plus years later it remains involuntary — start the chant anywhere in Korea during a national match and the room completes it, generation irrelevant. As a foreigner joining in at a chicken-and-beer joint (치맥, chimaek — fried chicken + maekju, the sacred match-viewing meal) during a Korea game, expect delighted adoption by the nearest table. Grandma-safe; grandma knows the claps.

Heard in the wild

대~한민국! 짝짝 짝 짝짝!

KO-REA! (clap-clap, clap, clap-clap!)

Where it lands

South Korea (universal); born at the 2002 World Cup

Quick answers

What does "대~한민국! (짝짝 짝 짝짝)" mean?
In Korean, "대~한민국! (짝짝 짝 짝짝)" means "KO-RE-A! — the national chant, complete with its mandatory clap pattern.". Literally it's "Republic of Korea (+ five claps)". Forged in the 2002 World Cup, when the Red Devils supporters taught an entire nation one rhythm: 대~한민국! followed by exactly five claps (clap-clap, clap, clap-clap). Twenty-plus years later it remains involuntary — start the chant anywhere in Korea during a national match and the room completes it, generation irrelevant. As a foreigner joining in at a chicken-and-beer joint (치맥, chimaek — fried chicken + maekju, the sacred match-viewing meal) during a Korea game, expect delighted adoption by the nearest table. Grandma-safe; grandma knows the claps.
Is "대~한민국! (짝짝 짝 짝짝)" offensive?
It's on the mild end — 1/5 (Grandma-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. mild, playful; fine on daytime TV.
How do you pronounce "대~한민국! (짝짝 짝 짝짝)"?
Say it "DEH-hahn-meen-GOOK" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: tɛ.han.min.ɡuk̚.

Related in Korean

심판 뭐 하냐! simpan mwo hanya sheem-PAHN mwuh hah-NYAH What is the ref DOING?! — the universal cry at a blown call. 잘~한다 jalhanda jahl-HAHN-dah Niiice going — praise curdled into sarcasm by one stretched vowel. 개발렸다 gaeballyeotda geh-bahl-LYUHT-dah Got absolutely destroyed / stomped — the scoreline was a crime scene. 발컨 balkeon bahl-KUHN Trash mechanics / plays like the controller's on the floor — the e-sports jab. 트롤 teurol teu-ROHL A thrower / int-er — the teammate actively ruining the game. 아싸! assa AH-ssah Yes! / score! — the fist-pump syllables.

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "Hell yes".

how to say "Hell yes" →

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