Korean slang profile
열폭
yeolpok
Lashing out from an inferiority complex
Feelings of inferiority caused by comparing yourself with others that erupt outwardly.
- Expanded form
- 열등감 폭발Lashing out from an inferiority complex
- Other spellings
- —
- Earliest source found
- Aug 14, 2010
- Documented trend period
- Around 2010~
This is the earliest source we have verified, not the date the term was coined.
01Examples, with English translations
- Example by Julimmal
쟤 성적 올랐다고 열폭하네.
They're lashing out because someone else's grades improved.
- Quoted from a source
‘열폭’(열등감 폭발)처럼 TV의 오락 프로그램에까지 전파돼 널리 쓰이는 사례도 있다.[2]
There are also cases where it has spread to TV entertainment programs and is widely used, such as ‘열폭’ (explosion of inferiority complex).
English translation by Julimmal.
02Documented history
- August 2010Dong-A Ilbo covered new youth words and cited ‘열폭’ (explosion of inferiority complex) as an example of a word that has spread to TV entertainment programs and is widely used, along with ‘My hands and feet are shriveling.’[2]
- Spring 2013The National Institute of the Korean Language’s ‘Saengul Language Life’ Nuri Communication Network Saemal thesis included ‘열폭 (Inferiority Sense Explosion)’ in the Saemal list.[1]
03Origin & word formation
Short for 열등감 폭발, an eruption of feelings of inferiority. Both a 2010 Dong-A Ilbo article and a National Institute of Korean Language publication give the explanation. Who first used it has not been verified.
Evidence for the origin explanationHigh
Both a news article and a government publication explicitly explain the term. Who first used it is unknown.
04Sources
Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.
- 누리소통망과 새말의 형성 — 새국어생활 제23권 제1호(2013년 봄) (국립국어원)Published 2013Original source checked Nov 5, 2026
- [욕설에 빠진 아이들]“쌤이 갑툭튀…” 선생님도 모르는 몰래문자 (동아일보)Published Aug 14, 2010Original source checked Nov 5, 2026