Korean slang profile

포카

poka

A shortened name for photo cards: small cards featuring photos of idols or similar figures.

Expanded form: 포토카드포토카드 (photo card)
Other spellings: —
Earliest source found: Mar 29, 2026
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
친구와 서로 좋아하는 멤버의 포카를 교환했어.
My friend and I traded 포카 of each other’s favorite members.

02Documented history

March 2026The article gave the abbreviation while explaining idol photo-card trading and various distribution formats.[1]

03Origin & word formation

A 2026 Kukmin Ilbo article explicitly explains that photo cards are called 포카. The context of cards from albums, fan signings, and public broadcasts was checked. Who first shortened the name and when could not be established.

Evidence for the origin explanationMedium

The explanation and usage were checked directly, but who coined the expression and when could not be established.

04Sources

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

아이돌 ‘포카’가 뭐길래…사진 1장에 300만원에 팔리기도 - 국민일보 (국민일보)Published Mar 29, 2026Original source checked Nov 12, 2026