Korean slang profile
여주
yeoju
Short for a female protagonist in a film, drama, novel, or similar work.
Short for a female protagonist in a film, drama, novel, or similar work.
- Expanded form
- 여자 주인공여자 주인공 (female protagonist)
- Other spellings
- —
- Earliest source found
- May 24, 2022
- 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
이 소설은 여주가 스스로 사건을 해결하는 이야기다.
This novel tells a story of the female lead solving the case herself.
02Documented history
03Origin & word formation
The source explains it as ‘여자 주인공’ (female protagonist). 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.
- 'SNL코리아2' 송가인, 트롯 아이돌→촌므파탈 여주 '국보급 활약' (이데일리)Published May 24, 2022Original source checked Nov 13, 2026
- ‘여주’가 점령한 가을 드라마… 시청자 잡는 무기는 설렘·힐링·감동 (조선일보)Published Nov 6, 2023Original source checked Nov 13, 2026