Korean slang profile

북캉스

bukkangseu

A vacation or break spent reading books.

Expanded form: book(책) + vacance(휴가)book (책) + vacance (vacation)
Other spellings: —
Earliest source found: Jul 5, 2017
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
휴가 동안 도서관에서 읽고 싶던 책을 보며 북캉스를 즐겼어.
I enjoyed a 북캉스 on vacation, reading books I’d wanted to read at the library.

02Documented history

2017-07-05Bravo My Life introduced the meaning of 북캉스 and examples of its use.[1]
2018-07-17E Today introduced the meaning of 북캉스 and examples of its use.[2]
2025-08-23KBS introduced the meaning of 북캉스 and examples of its use.[3]

03Origin & word formation

Bravo My Life and E Today explain it as a blend of book and 바캉스, vacation. KBS’s 2025 reporting also shows its use for relaxing while reading in a library. Who first used it could not be established.

Evidence for the origin explanationMedium

The explanation and usage were compared directly with the source. Who coined the expression and when could not be established.

04Sources

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

“날도 더운데, 뭘 하지?” 오늘 ‘북캉스’ 떠나볼까요?! - 브라보마이라이프 (브라보마이라이프)Published Jul 5, 2017Original source checked Nov 12, 2026
올여름엔 ‘북캉스’ 어때요?… 도서 구매 시 소득공제는 덤 - 이투데이 (이투데이)Published Jul 17, 2018Original source checked Nov 12, 2026
무더위 피해 실내로…북캉스 인기 (KBS)Published Aug 23, 2025Original source checked Nov 12, 2026