Korean slang profile

mRNA

A life-sciences abbreviation for messenger RNA, also called ‘전령 RNA’ or ‘메신저리보핵산’ in Korean.

Expanded form: messenger RNAmessenger RNA
Other spellings: —
Earliest source found: Nov 2, 2020
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
과학 기사를 읽다가 mRNA의 풀어쓴 이름을 찾아봤어.
While reading a science article, I looked up the full name of mRNA.

02Documented history

November 2020연합뉴스 gave ‘전령 RNA’ and the English name ‘messenger RNA’ alongside mRNA while reporting on a pharmaceutical company’s business expansion.[1]
December 2020한국경제TV expanded mRNA as ‘메신저리보핵산’ while covering different vaccine approaches.[2]

03Origin & word formation

A 2020 연합뉴스 article gives ‘전령 RNA(mRNA·messenger RNA)’, while a 한국경제TV article that year expands it as ‘메신저리보핵산’. When and why the abbreviation was first used could not be established.

Evidence for the origin explanationHigh

The correspondence between the Korean name and expanded English form was checked in two articles. This does not establish the abbreviation’s first use.

04Sources

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

에스티팜, 유전자 치료제 및 백신 사업 진출 | 연합뉴스 (연합뉴스)Published Nov 2, 2020Original source checked Nov 13, 2026
5종 백신 확보…백신 한계·유통 문제 없나 (한국경제TV)Published Dec 8, 2020Original source checked Nov 13, 2026