Korean slang profile

고인물

goinmul

An internet expression for someone highly skilled after concentrating on one field for a long time.

Expanded form: Not documented
Other spellings: —
Earliest source found: May 24, 2021
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
퍼즐 고인물인 친구는 어려운 규칙도 금방 알아봤어.
My friend, a puzzle veteran, quickly grasped even the difficult rules.

02Documented history

May 2021An article used it for expertise accumulated in a particular field.[1]
June 2021An article used it for expertise accumulated in a particular field.[2]

03Origin & word formation

아이굿뉴스 explains it as someone who has mastered a field, with usage expanding from games to other areas. The article covers the meaning ‘expert’, unlike the negative image of stagnant water; the first usage time could not be established.

Evidence for the origin explanationMedium

An explanation or context showing the meaning was checked, but the available evidence does not establish the first user.

04Sources

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

'1박 2일' 김종민, 예능 고인물 면모 뽐냈다…日 예능 전체 1위 [종합] (스타뉴스)Published May 24, 2021Original source checked Nov 13, 2026
오늘의 게임 용어: 고인물 (아이굿뉴스)Published Jun 9, 2021Original source checked Nov 13, 2026