Korean slang profile
갑통알
gaptongal
A situation where a low bank balance makes one feel a part-time job is needed.
A situation where a low bank balance makes one feel a part-time job is needed.
- Expanded form
- 갑자기 통장을 보니 알바를 해야 할 것 같다갑자기 통장을 보니 알바를 해야 할 것 같다 (suddenly looking at my bank account, I think I need a part-time job)
- Other spellings
- —
- Earliest source found
- Mar 31, 2023
- 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
자동이체가 다 빠져나가니 갑통알이야.
After all the automatic payments went out, I felt I needed a part-time job.
02Documented history
- 2023-03-31The 이데일리 source used the expression ‘갑통알’.[1]
03Origin & word formation
The source explains it as ‘갑자기 통장을 보니 알바를 해야 할 것 같다’ (suddenly looking at my bank account, I think I need a part-time job). Who first used it and when could not be established.
Evidence for the origin explanationMedium
The explanation and usage were compared directly with the evidence. Who first coined it and when it was first used could not be established.
04Sources
Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.
- 갑통알? 정동원 "갑자기 통통한 알새우"[이연호의 신조어 나들이] (이데일리)Published Mar 31, 2023Original source checked Nov 13, 2026