Korean slang profile

DIY

Do it yourself

The English abbreviation for making or assembling something yourself.

Expanded form: Do It YourselfDo it yourself
Other spellings: —
Earliest source found: Nov 27, 1996
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
주말에 DIY로 책장을 만들었어.
I built a bookshelf myself over the weekend.
Quoted from a source
LG산전은 이 제품의 판매를 위해 기존 대리점 판매방식 이외에도 주부들의 DIY(Do It Yourself)제품 선호에 따라 백화점 등 대형 유통매장이나 통신판매 등을 통해 가정에 공급할 계획이다.[1]
In order to sell this product, LG Industrial Systems plans to supply it to households through large distribution stores such as department stores or mail order sales, in addition to the existing dealership sales method, depending on housewives' preference for DIY (Do It Yourself) products.
English translation by Julimmal.

02Documented history

November 1996In order to sell this product, LG Industrial Systems plans to supply it to households through large distribution stores such as department stores or mail order sales, in addition to the existing dealership sales method, depending on housewives' preference for DIY (Do It Yourself) products.[1]
November 1998E-Newspaper: “Sales of so-called DIY (Do It Yourself) security products that consumers can install themselves are increasing.”[2]

03Origin & word formation

Short for “Do It Yourself.” The 1996 source from Electronic Times 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.

LG산전, 드릴 겸용 전동 드라이버 개발 (전자신문)Published Nov 27, 1996Original source checked Nov 5, 2026
보안 DIY제품 판매 증가 (전자신문)Published Nov 11, 1998Original source checked Nov 5, 2026