Korean slang profile

파이어족

FIRE-jok

People pursuing financial independence and early retirement

People working toward voluntary early retirement through financial independence.

Expanded form: Financial Independence, Retire EarlyPeople pursuing financial independence and early retirement
Other spellings: FIRE족
Earliest source found: Dec 28, 2018
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
서른에 은퇴하려고 파이어족을 꿈꾸는 친구가 있어.
I have a friend aiming for financial independence and retirement at thirty.
Quoted from a source
경제적 자립을 토대로 자발적 조기 은퇴를 추진하는 사람들을 일컫는다.[1]
This refers to people who pursue voluntary early retirement based on economic independence.
English translation by Julimmal.

02Documented history

December 2018This refers to people who pursue voluntary early retirement based on economic independence.[1]
August 2020Asia Economy: “파이어족 is a new word created by taking the first letters of the four English words ‘financial independence, retire early’.”[2]

03Origin & word formation

Short for “Financial Independence, Retire Early.” The 2018 source from 시대 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.

[고수칼럼] 당당한 '파이어족'을 위한 종잣돈은 얼마? (시대)Published Dec 28, 2018Original source checked Nov 5, 2026
극단적 절약 → 조기은퇴 '파이어족' 확산, 경제 회복 위협한다? (아시아경제)Published Aug 15, 2020Original source checked Nov 5, 2026