낙하산
[nak-ha-san]
parachute nepotism; preferential treatment; pull strings
The Flashcard
The original illustrated card, front and back.
Meaning & context
통속적으로 파라슈트라는 의미를 가지고 있는 낙하산은 자식에게 유리한 지위 또는 특혜 의 영향을 주는 부모 또는 정책적인 연계를 일컫기 위해 비속어로 사용되었다. 이 표현은 직장인들이 연고주의를 나타내기 위해 사용하였고 보통 부정적인 질투 혹은 적개심을 나 타낸다.
Literally meaning a parachute, nakhasan became slang for the influence of ones parents or political connections being used to gain a favorable position or preferential treatment. This expression is used by employees to describe such nepotism in a negative light due to envy or resentment. It vaguely alludes to the English “golden parachute,” “pull strings for someone,” or even just some “lucky bastard” who was born with a “silver spoon” in his mouth.
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 62–63. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
낙하산 사이즈
English
Parachute Size
신입 쟤 뭐야? 어떻게 쟤가 우리보다 윗자리로 간거야? 누군가를 알고 있는게 분명해.
Who is this new guy? How did he get positioned above us? He must know someone.
쟤 낙하산이라고 들었어. 저 남자 아버지가 신이야.
Yeah, I heard he is a nakhasan. His father is a Shin.
롯데? 난 낙하산 진짜 싫어.
From Lotte? God I hate nakhasan.
뭐? 너도 너희 아버지가 이 직장 얻어주신거 아니야? 아버지가 이사님이시잖아... 너는 그냥 화난거겠지. 그가 너보다 큰 낙하산이라서.
What? Didn’t your dad get you this job? He’s a senior manager. . . You’re just mad because he has a bigger parachute.
닥치지 않으면 넌 곧 하늘에서 떨어지게 될거야!
Shut up or you’re going to fall from the sky!
From the book: notes & culture
The Straight Scoop
신 [shin] Shin, here can have dual meaning. First, it means a god or demigod, but it also happens to be the family name of the CEO of the Lotte Group (a large conglomerate in Korea).
Culturally Speaking
The Old Boy’s Network
Nepotism in Korea is not a problem. . . it is a way of life. Much of Korean society and business culture is based on relationships: family relations; relationships from school; and regional ties. For instance, if you want a job at the Jungang Daily Newspaper, you’d better be a graduate of Seoul National University. Such favoritism or partisanship would merely be seen as “looking after one’s own.”
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