Some of the words used in the Korean tech scene aren’t quite English—and they aren’t quite Korean either. In fact, even native Korean speakers who’ve never worked in tech often say, “What are they talking about?”
This quirky blend of borrowed English terms, misused phrases, and startup-specific buzzwords is fondly (and sometimes sarcastically) referred to as Pangyo Dialect (판교 사투리).
1. So… what is Pangyo Dialect(판교 사투리)?
Pangyo is a district in Seongnam just outside of Seoul, and home to Korea’s major tech companies—Naver, Kakao, NCSoft, and dozens of startups. It’s essentially Korea’s version of Silicon Valley.
And just like how tech workers in Silicon Valley have their own lingo, Korean tech employees developed one too—only theirs sounds like English... but isn’t.
These words are used so naturally and frequently, they feel like actual Korean. So if you're new to the Korean tech scene and want to “sound native,” knowing this Pangyo Dialect is practically a rite of passage.
2. Common Terms in the Pangyo Dialect
Here are some of the most commonly used Pnagyo Dialect words you’ll hear in meetings, Slack threads, or even job interviews—and what they really mean.
1. Ping-pong (핑퐁하다)
“계속 핑퐁 중이라서 결정을 못 하고 있어요.”
"I'm still ping-pong-ing with that, so there's not been anything decided yet."
Used to describe endless back-and-forth between stakeholders, or yourself and a co-worker, or just any relation that's present in the office setting.
The word “ping-pong” isn’t used like this in English—but you’ll hear it everywhere in Pangyo.
2. Align (얼라인)
“대표님이랑 얼라인했어요?”
"Did you align with the boss?"
Used to mean: “I’ve synced with [someone]” or “We’re on the same page.”
Sounds overly formal or vague in English—but standard in Korean startups.
It also isn't very grammatically correct, not doesn't sound too correct.
3. Confirm (컨펌)
“디자인 컨펌 받았어요?”
"Did you get that confirmed?"
Means: Getting final approval.
Sound correct in some ways, but this term is used overly common.
In Korean companies, it can imply a power-based sign-off or it can also mean whether or not the subject (or an issue) has been looked at.
so an 'advanced implement' of this word would be
"어제 보내드린 자료 컨펌되셨을까요?"
"Were you able to take a look at the documents I sent over yesterday?"
4. Tracking (트래킹하다)
“이 이슈는 제가 트래킹하고 있어요.”
"I am tracking that issue"
Means: “I’m keeping an eye on it.”
Not incorrect, but sounds more intense than natural English would imply.
It can mean as simple as 'I'm following up on it' or 'I am responsible for that ticket'
5. Develop (디벨롭)
“이 아이디어 더 디벨롭해 봅시다.”
"Let's develop this idea"
Means: Let’s refine or build on an idea.
“Develop” is typically used for software or career growth in English—but not here.
It's about taking an idea in a brainstorming stage into an actionable stage.
It can also mean to make some more variations or take things to the next level.
All in all, it means you've got work to do with whatever that needs to be 'developed'
6. 피피티 (PPT)
“PPT 잘 정리해 주세요.”
"Make sure to get it into a good PPT"
Used to mean “presentation” and or "powerpoint slides" regardless of software (PowerPoint, Google Slides, etc.).
We all know that PPT is an abbreviation for PowerPoint, right?
That's exactly where this word came from. Making powerpoint slides.
7. Noti (노티 드립니다)
“금요일 회의 노티 드립니다.”
"Noti-ing you of the meeting on Friday"
A polite way to say “Just a reminder.”
Noty is a shortened word for 'Notification', so think of it this way.
"This is your notification for Friday's meeting"
Feels overly formal when translated literally, but it’s common in Korean corporate emails.
Similar to '노티 드립니다' is '리마인드 드립니다' (reminder).
8. Deep-dive (딥다이브)
“다음 미팅 때 딥다이브 하시죠.”
"let's deep-dive on that on the next meeting"
Refers to an in-depth discussion or analysis.
Literally diving deeper into a subject
Heavily used in Pangyo, but not quite native in tone.
3. Why This “Dialect” Matters
To outsiders—including non-tech Koreans—Pangyo Dialect can sound pretentious, confusing, or even unnecessary.
To insiders, though? It’s simply how things get done.
This “dialect” reflects:
- The Korean tech industry’s push for globalization
- The influence of agile, product, and startup culture
- A desire to sound fast, modern, and “in the know”
But it’s also a little ironic: the more global the language tries to be, the more localized and quirky it becomes.
Final Thoughts
Learning Pangyo Dialect isn’t just about understanding words—it’s about understanding culture.
It tells you how Korean tech teams work, how decisions are communicated, and how identity is built through language.
So whether you’re a foreigner entering the Korean tech world—or just a curious Korean professional switching industries—start listening for these phrases.
Before long, you’ll be 얼라인-ing, 컨펌-ing, and 노티-ing everyone like a pro.
Check out my other posts that explore the uniqueness of a Korean tech scene.
👉Agile in Korea: When Culture Shapes Methodology
🔗 https://pminginkorea.blogspot.com/2025/03/agile-in-korea-when-culture-shapes.html
👉The Essential Communication & Project Management Tools Used in Korean Tech Companies
🔗 https://pminginkorea.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-essential-communication-project.html
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