Korean slang profile
복세편살
boksepyeonsal
Take it easy in a complicated world
An expression encouraging people to live comfortably without getting too caught up in the complications of life.
- Expanded form
- 복잡한 세상 편하게 살자Take it easy in a complicated world
- Other spellings
- —
- Earliest source found
- Jan 22, 2015
- Documented trend period
- Around 2015~
This is the earliest source we have verified, not the date the term was coined.
01Examples, with English translations
- Example by Julimmal
요즘 모토는 복세편살이야.
My motto these days is to take life easy in this complicated world.
- Quoted from a source
‘복잡한 세상 편하게 살자’의 첫 글자만 따서 조합한 말이다.[1]
It is a combination of the first letters of ‘Let’s live comfortably in a complex world.’
English translation by Julimmal.
02Documented history
- January 2015In the explanation section on the meaning of new words, Health Chosun introduced ‘복세편살’ as a word derived from the first letters of ‘Let’s live comfortably in a complex world’ and wrote that it was a line spoken by actor Park Sung-woong in the movie ‘New World’.[1]
- January 2016AhnLab data explained differently that actor Park Seong-woong sent a Facebook message to his fans saying, ‘Let’s live comfortably in a complex world,’ which was shortened to ‘복세편살’ and became popular.[2]
03Origin & word formation
Takes the first syllables of 복잡한 세상 편하게 살자: take life easy in a complicated world. The sources disagree on its spread: Health Chosun in 2015 attributes it to the film New World, while AhnLab in 2016 attributes it to an actor's Facebook message to a fan. Which is correct has not been verified.
Evidence for the origin explanationLow
Two sources give different origin accounts: a film line and a message to a fan. The film and original message need direct checking.
04Sources
Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.
- <신조어풀이>신년에는 근심 걱정 버리고 ‘복세편살’하세요 (헬스조선)Published Jan 22, 2015Original source checked Nov 5, 2026
- 디지털 네이티브의 ‘신조어’ 따라잡기 (안랩)Published Jan 20, 2016Original source checked Nov 5, 2026