Jeju Island's Hidden Treasure: "Poksak Sogassuda" - The Charm of Jeju Dialect You Never Knew

Hello everyone! Today, we'll explore the beautiful language of Jeju Island, the Jeju dialect. We'll take a closer look at the Jeju expression that has recently gained attention through the Netflix drama "Poksak Sogassuda." The Jeju dialect is not just a simple regional accent, but a precious linguistic heritage that embodies Jeju's history and culture. Through this article, I hope you'll fall in love with the charm of the Jeju dialect!

1. Understanding the True Meaning of "Poksak Sogassuda"

When first hearing "Poksak Sogassuda," one might mistakenly think it means "completely fooled." However, it actually has a very different meaning. "Poksak Sogassuda" is a Jeju greeting that means "Thank you for your hard work" or "You must be very tired."

In this expression, "Poksak" is an adverb meaning "very" or "extremely." "Sogda" in Jeju dialect means "to work hard." Therefore, "Poksak Sogassuda" literally translates to "You've worked extremely hard."

This greeting is typically used when someone has finished a difficult task or after long hours of labor. For example, saying "Oh my, Poksak Sogassuda!" to a neighbor who has finished farm work acknowledges and encourages their efforts.

2. Various Meanings and Usage of "Sogda" in Jeju Dialect

Poksak Sogassuda (from Netflex)

In Jeju dialect, "Sogda" is used in various ways. Let's look at its main meanings and usage:

1. To work hard, to toil
   • "Did you work a lot today?" (Oneul il mani sogasseo?)
   • "I'm tired because I've worked hard on many things." (Sogeun iri manaseo pigonahuda.)
2. To work
   • "Let's go work in the field." (Bate gaseo sogeubseo.)
   • "I worked from morning till evening." (Achimbuteo jeonyeogkkaji sogassuda.)
3. To struggle
   • "Business is not good these days, so it's tough." (Yojeum jangsaga an doeoseo sogeumneda.)
   • "It seems you're having a hard time studying." (Gongbuhaneura mani sogneun geo gata.)

As you can see, "Sogda" is an important Jeju expression that goes beyond simply meaning "to work hard" and is used diversely in everyday life.

3. How to Use "Poksak Sogassuda" in Daily Life

"Poksak Sogassuda" can be used in various situations, from formal to casual. Here's how to use this expression in everyday life:

1. At work
   • To a superior: "Boss, Poksak Sogassuda for preparing today's meeting."
   • To a colleague: "Finished overtime? Poksak Sogassuda, now go home and rest."
2. At home
   • To a spouse who finished housework: "Poksak Sogassuda for cleaning the house. Thank you."
   • To a child who finished studying for exams: "Poksak Sogassuda for preparing for the test. Well done."
3. Among friends
   • To a friend who helped with moving: "Poksak Sogassuda for helping with the move today. Really appreciate it."
   • After a workout: "We had an intense workout today. Poksak Sogassuda!"
4. In service industries
   • Customer to staff: "Looks like you have many customers today. Poksak Sogassuda."
   • Staff to customer: "You've been waiting for a long time. Poksak Sogassuda."

Using "Poksak Sogassuda" appropriately in these situations can acknowledge others' efforts and express gratitude. Moreover, using Jeju dialect can add a sense of friendliness and warmth to your interactions.

4. Introduction to the Netflix Drama "Poksak Sogassuda"

"Poksak Sogassuda" is also the title of a Korean drama released on Netflix from March 7, 2025. This romance drama set in 1960s Jeju Island, starring IU and Park Bo-gum, has garnered significant attention.

The drama's plot is as follows:
It depicts the adventurous life of Oh Ae-soon (played by IU), a "charming rebel," and Yang Gwan-sik (played by Park Bo-gum), a "devoted man of steel," both born in 1960s Jeju Island. Ae-soon is a dreamy literature-loving girl who wants to attend university in Seoul but faces difficulties due to poverty, misfortune, and gender discrimination. Gwan-sik is portrayed as a steadfast boy devoted to Ae-soon.

The drama's features include:

1. Active use of Jeju dialect: The drama uses various Jeju expressions, including "Poksak Sogassuda," conveying the beauty and uniqueness of Jeju dialect to viewers.
2. Vivid recreation of 1960s Jeju Island: It meticulously depicts the landscape, clothing, and lifestyle of the time, evoking nostalgia in viewers.
3. Harmony of romance and social messages: Besides the love story of the protagonists, it also addresses social issues and the unique situation of Jeju Island at that time.
4. Global popularity: Released worldwide through Netflix, the drama played a significant role in introducing Korean culture and Jeju's charm to a global audience.

The "Poksak Sogassuda" drama greatly contributed to increasing interest in Jeju dialect and culture, allowing many viewers to discover the beauty of Jeju dialect through the show.

5. Characteristics of Jeju Dialect and Its Differences from Standard Korean

While Jeju dialect is a variant of Korean, it has unique features that set it apart from mainland dialects. Let's look at the main characteristics of Jeju dialect and how it differs from standard Korean:

1. Pronunciation features
   • Strong 'ㅎ' sound: 'Flower' (kkot) is pronounced as 'kochi', 'field' (bat) as 'bachi'
   • Special pronunciation of 'ㅅ' sound: 'Seoul' is pronounced as 'seul'
   • Softening of tense consonants: 'Little one' (kkoma) is pronounced as 'goma'
2. Vocabulary features
   • Use of unique words: 'Body' is called 'gop' instead of 'mom'
   • Distinctive use of Sino-Korean words: 'Fruit' is called 'silgwa' instead of 'gwail'
   • Rich onomatopoeia and mimetic words: 'Shivering' is expressed as 'budeulbudeulhada' instead of 'beolbeol ddelda'
3. Grammatical features
   • Unique sentence endings: '-suda', '-uda', etc.
   • Differences in honorifics: Unique honorific expressions like 'Bap meogeubseo' (Please eat)
   • Differences in tense expressions: Use of '-asi/-eosi' to indicate past tense
4. Intonation and rhythm
   • Distinctive rising intonation at the end of sentences
   • Fast speech rate and rhythmic patterns

These characteristics make Jeju dialect significantly different from standard Korean, sometimes to the point where mainland Koreans find it difficult to understand. However, these differences create the unique charm of Jeju dialect and form an important element of Jeju's cultural identity.

6. Tips for Travelers Using "Poksak Sogassuda"

Using Jeju dialect expressions like "Poksak Sogassuda" while traveling in Jeju can help you communicate more closely with locals and enhance your travel experience. Here are some tips for travelers on using "Poksak Sogassuda":

1. At accommodation check-in/check-out
   • When checking in: "Poksak Sogassuda for preparing the room. Thank you."
   • When checking out: "We had a comfortable stay. Poksak Sogassuda for the cleaning you'll do."
2. At restaurants
   • When ordering: "Poksak Sogassuda for preparing the food. We're looking forward to it."
   • After the meal: "The food was delicious. Poksak Sogassuda for cooking."
3. At tourist sites
   • To a guide: "Thank you for the kind explanation. Poksak Sogassuda."
   • When buying souvenirs: "Poksak Sogassuda for making these beautiful items. I'll treasure them."
4. When using a taxi
   • Upon reaching the destination: "Thank you for driving safely. Poksak Sogassuda."
5. When walking Jeju Olle Trail
   • To your companion: "Poksak Sogassuda for walking today. Let's keep it up tomorrow!"
6. When strolling around your accommodation
   • To locals you meet: "The weather is nice. Poksak Sogassuda for taking a walk."

Using "Poksak Sogassuda" appropriately can help you build rapport with locals and make your travel memories more special. It also shows respect for Jeju's culture by demonstrating interest in the local dialect.

Conclusion

Today, we explored Jeju's culture and language through the Jeju expression "Poksak Sogassuda." Jeju dialect is not just a simple regional accent, but a precious heritage that embodies Jeju's history and emotions. "Poksak Sogassuda" is one of the expressions that represent the charm of Jeju dialect, allowing us to feel the warmth and affection of Jeju Island.

I hope this article has sparked a new interest in Jeju dialect among our readers. If you have the chance to visit Jeju Island, try to experience the charm of Jeju dialect firsthand by communicating with locals. And through expressions like "Poksak Sogassuda," may you feel the warm heart of Jeju and create an even more special journey. Thank you!