What Does 만찢남 Mean? A Fun Korean Slang Word You Should Know
Have you ever seen someone so ridiculously handsome that he looks like he stepped straight out of a comic book?
Korean has a word for that.
만찢남 (man-jjit-nam)
It’s a fun Korean slang term that has been used for years to describe men with almost unreal, comic-book-level good looks. And yes, the word itself is just as dramatic as the idea behind it.
What Does 만찢남 Mean in Korean?
만찢남 is short for 만화를 찢고 나온 남자.
만화를
찢고 나온
남자
So, what does 만찢남 mean? Literally, it means:
“a man who tore his way out of a comic book.”
In more natural English, you could say:
“a guy who looks like he stepped right out of a comic book.”
The expression refers to an exceptionally handsome man whose appearance seems almost too perfect or unreal to exist outside a comic or webtoon.
There is also a female version:
만찢녀 = 만화를 찢고 나온 여자
A woman who looks as though she stepped straight out of a comic book.
Korean Celebrities Who Have Been Called 만찢남
One of the celebrities most strongly associated with the expression is Cha Eun-woo (차은우). Korean TV and entertainment media have repeatedly used 만찢남 to describe him.
Cha Eun-woo (차은우)
Actor Song Kang (송강) has also been described in Korean media as a new 만찢남 and even as a successor to Cha Eun-woo in that department. In a 2019 interview, Song Kang himself was asked about receiving the nickname.
Song Kang (송강)
So if you see a Korean entertainment headline calling an actor or K-pop idol a 만찢남, don't start looking for a ripped comic book. They're just saying he's really, really good-looking.
만찢남 at the Swimming Pool
Now that you know the word, let's see it in action. I created this little Korean-learning comic around one very important question:
Just how much of a 만찢남 is this swimmer?
저 수영 선수 너무 멋있다!That swimmer is so hot!
어머, 수영모 벗는다! Oh! He's taking off his swim cap!
완전 만찢남이야! He's a total 만찢남!
이제 물안경 벗는다! Now he's taking off his goggles!
물안경 벗은 얼굴은 얼마나 잘생겼을까?I wonder how handsome he'll look without his goggles.
진짜 만찢남이야!He's a real 만찢남!
Well. Technically, they weren't wrong. 😂
Learn the Korean People Actually Use
Words like 만찢남 are one of the reasons I love teaching Korean through stories and visual context.
You may not encounter every slang expression in a traditional textbook, but you'll see expressions like these in Korean entertainment, online conversations, social media, and everyday pop culture.
And they're much easier to remember when there's a story attached to them. Especially when that story involves a swimmer whose face is... unexpectedly memorable. 😂
If you enjoy learning Korean through stories and illustrations, check out my Korean learning books at ToonToon Korean. I create illustrated books and K-drama-style Korean learning novels designed to make reading Korean easier, more engaging, and a lot more fun.
Written by Saehee Um
Saehee Um is the creator of ToonToon Korean and the author of illustrated novels for Korean learners. Her books combine binge-worthy storytelling, real-life dialogue, and cultural insights to make learning Korean engaging and fun.
She writes Korean learning novels presented in a K-drama-style script, helping learners improve their Korean through dramatic stories and immersive dialogue.
