Korean slang profile

본캐

bonkae

Your main character or everyday identity

The character a player mainly uses in a game. Outside gaming, it refers to a person's usual identity or main occupation in contrast with an alternate role.

Expanded form: 원래 캐릭터Your main character or everyday identity
Other spellings: —
Earliest source found: May 31, 2020
Documented trend period: Not verified

This is the earliest source we have verified, not the date the term was coined.

01Examples, with English translations

Example by Julimmal
본캐는 회사원이고 부캐는 유튜버야.
My main identity is an office worker; my side persona is a YouTuber.
Quoted from a source
본캐(한 인물의 원래 캐릭터)를 넘어서는 인기를 얻고 있다.[1]
It is gaining popularity beyond 본캐 (one character's original character).
English translation by Julimmal.

02Documented history

May 2020It is gaining popularity beyond 본캐 (one character's original character).[1]
July 2020App Story: “Using ‘부캐’ like this has the advantage of being able to create content that goes beyond the limitations of ‘본캐’.”[2]

03Origin & word formation

Short for “원래 캐릭터.” The 2020 source from Newsis explicitly gives this explanation. Who first used it and when have not been verified.

Evidence for the origin explanationHigh

The explanation is explicit in the sources, and at least two sources use the same meaning. When it was first used is unknown.

04Sources

Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.

유산슬 이어 '서울왔어효'까지…부캐, 예능 넘어 가요계 들썩 (뉴시스)Published May 31, 2020Original source checked Nov 5, 2026
아직도 없어? 싹스리&다비이모 부럽지 않은 부캐 만드는 법 (앱스토리)Published Jul 16, 2020Original source checked Nov 5, 2026