Korean slang profile
벌크업
bulk up
Building muscle mass
A process of building up the body through strength training and nutrition, with the goal of increasing muscle mass.
- Expanded form
- Not documented
- Other spellings
- —
- Earliest source found
- Jul 9, 2015
- 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
요즘 벌크업 중이라 단백질을 챙겨 먹어.
I'm bulking up these days, so I'm making sure I get enough protein.
- Quoted from a source
그런데 요즘 많이 하는 벌크업은 살보다 근육이 더 늘어나는 것이라 몸무게가 많이 나가게 된다.[1]
However, 벌크업, which is popular these days, involves gaining more muscle than fat, so you end up gaining a lot of weight.
English translation by Julimmal.
02Documented history
- July 2015However, 벌크업, which is popular these days, involves gaining more muscle than fat, so you end up gaining a lot of weight.[1]
- July 2026Health Chosun: “However, 벌크업 refers to the process of combining systematic strength training and nutritional management with the goal of increasing muscle mass.”[2]
03Origin & word formation
Where the expression originated has not been verified. The 2015 source from Sports Kyunghyang only explains the meaning.
Evidence for the origin explanationLow
The meaning is supported, but the sources do not explain how the expression was formed.
04Sources
Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.
- 이대호, ‘벌크업’에 대한 생각은? (스포츠경향)Published Jul 9, 2015Original source checked Nov 5, 2026
- 김종국 "주우재는 벌크업 아니라 살찐 것"… 뭐가 달라? (헬스조선)Published Jul 27, 2026Original source checked Nov 5, 2026