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Red Cheeks Like You’ve Been Drinking? Young Koreans Call It 술톤

Edutainer: Eun-ji

💎 What you'll learn in this post

📌 Heads up before you read

 

Overnight Sensation Words Expressions commonly used in conversations related to alcohol

 
korean word

I 술톤 [sul-ton]

korean word

Frequency of use in general

★★★★☆


When someone has a rosy complexion, as if they've just had a drink, Koreans call it 술톤[sul-ton].


[sul]: Alcohol

✅ 톤[ton]: Color tone, Tone


[sul-ton] is quite popular among people in their 20s and 30s.

However, it’s less familiar to teenagers, who don’t drink, and those in their 40s and older, who may not be as up-to-date with trendy expressions.

 

🎁 Essential insights into Korean culture


When you hear about [sul-ton] in Korea, one actor immediately comes to mind: Hwang Jung-min!


Hwang Jung-min is such a famous movie actor that almost everyone in Korea knows who he is, truly a representative of Korean cinema. If you’re studying Korean, you’ll definitely come across his works.


He’s a legendary actor and a national icon. In fact, the word [sul-ton] is often used in news articles to describe him 💬

 

1️⃣

One red carpet headline even read:

 ⬇ ⬇ ⬇

Hwang Jung-min,

‘The [sul-ton] Skin'

😂

korean word
 

2️⃣

짠한형 신동엽 (ZZANBRO)

Episode 12


 ⬇ Behind the scenes of Hwang Jung-min's [sul-ton] ⬇

(English subtitles available)


Recently, Hwang Jung-min appeared on the popular YouTube channel ZZANBRO to set the record straight. He revealed that his [sul-ton] complexion isn't due to drinking; but that he's had this natural flush since middle school. 😂🤣


In the video, he also shares funny stories about people mistaking his natural [sul-ton] for a post-drinking flush.


 

🎁 Eunji's Recommended Works by Hwang Jung-min



Hwang Jung-min is not only famous for his nickname [sul-ton], but also as the 천만 배우[cheon-man bae-woo], an actor celebrated for his record-breaking movies, each surpassing 10 million viewers.


To put that into perspective, Korea's population is around 50 million. If you exclude children and non-moviegoers, it means most Koreans have likely seen his films! Here are 4 must-watch movies from a variety of genres that highlight his incredible box office power.


천만[cheon-man]: 10 Million

배우[bae-woo]: Actor


📺 Movie


Veteran/베테랑(2015)

Veteran

Detective Seo Do-chul (Hwang Jung-min), a skilled investigator, takes on the arrogant third-generation heir Cho Tae-o (Yoo Ah-in) in a battle for justice. This action-packed film, known for its fun moments and the iconic line "어이가 없네 [eo-i-ga eop-ne] (That's ridiculous)", was so successful that it led to a 2024 sequel starring the popular actor Jung Hae-in. 🥰


12.12: The Day/서울의 봄(2023)

12.12: The Day

Based on a true story, this film is set against the backdrop of the 12 December 1979 military coup, with Hwang Jung-min delivering a powerful performance as Jeon Du-kwang, a character inspired by the real-life figure of Chun Doo-hwan. If you’re into modern Korean history, this is a must-watch. 😎 You can see an example of the challenging process that built the democracy Korea has today.


The Wailing/곡성(2016)

  The Wailing

In the quiet village of Gokseong, a series of mysterious murders begins to unfold. This supernatural thriller, combining religious and mystical elements, keeps audiences guessing and has sparked endless discussions. 😱

📌 Sadly, this masterpiece isn’t available on Netflix, which is such a shame. 😔


📺 Drama


Narco-Saints/수리남(2022)

Narco-Saints

Set in Suriname, South America, this thrilling drama is based on a true story about the hunt for a Korean drug kingpin, played by Hwang Jung-min. With its intense storyline and stellar performances, it’s a standout in the world of crime thrillers. 🤪

 

💬 Real Korean Expressions in Conversation


Korean phase

👧: I think it's winter, but my face is turning [sul-ton] even without drinking.

겨울이 돼서 그런지 술을 안 마셔도 얼굴이 술톤이야.

→ I think it's winter, but my face is turning red, as if I've been drinking, even though I haven't.


👩‍🦰: The cold is making me look all flushed TT

추워서 얼굴이 빨개지는구나ㅠㅠ


👧: I really don’t like how my face turns [sul-ton] so easily.

나는 쉽게 얼굴이 술톤이 되는 게 콤플렉스야...

→ I really hate how my face turns red, as if I've been drinking, so easily.

 

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