Korean slang profile

도장깨기

dojangkkaegi

A metaphor for successively overcoming opponents or stages, or visiting a planned set of places one by one.

Expanded form: Not documented
Other spellings: —
Earliest source found: Dec 30, 2019
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
이번 달에는 동네 작은 서점 도장깨기를 해 보려고 해.
This month I’m planning to visit all the small bookstores in the neighborhood.

02Documented history

December 2019An article used it metaphorically for experiencing multiple targets in succession or clearing stages.[1]
November 2021An article used it metaphorically for experiencing multiple targets in succession or clearing stages.[2]

03Origin & word formation

동아일보 uses it for visiting all the restaurants on a list, and CBS노컷뉴스 for a baseball team progressing through several stages. The evidence has no martial-arts origin explanation, so the first usage process could not be established.

Evidence for the origin explanationLow

The figurative meanings of visiting restaurants and advancing through competition stages were checked, but an origin connected to martial arts could not be confirmed.

04Sources

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

주택가 숨은 맛집 찾는 재미…석촌호수 산책은 덤 (동아일보)Published Dec 30, 2019Original source checked Nov 13, 2026
이런 '도장깨기'가 또 나올까..미라클 두산, WC부터 KS까지 (CBS노컷뉴스)Published Nov 10, 2021Original source checked Nov 13, 2026