Learn Korean Slang with SNL Korea: Hilarious Quiz Scene Explained

[Image Source] Yoon Gayi, SNL Korea – AI illustration by DALL·E

 

A quiz show that spirals into chaos: explore how polite forms, contraction grammar, and body-related slang collide in this SNL Korea scene.

 

1. “SNL Korea: Trivia Quiz” Scene Summary

In this infamous segment from SNL Korea, the cast stages a couples quiz game. A seemingly innocent riddle—“A cow has four, a woman has two. What is it?”—triggers a string of answers from Yoon Ga-i:
“가슴 (breasts)?”, “슴가?”, “유방?”, “젖탱이!?”
But the honest answer was: legs (다리).

The wordplay and rising absurdity exemplify Korean comedy’s tendency to flirt with inappropriateness before dropping an unexpected punchline.

 

📺 Watch the original scene here.

[Source] YouTube, 요기쇼츠 ⬅️ SNL Korea, Coupang Play

This is an SNL Korea skit featuring Yoon Ga-i and Kim A-young. Some viewers may feel uncomfortable as the sketch can come across as demeaning to women. However, please understand that we will not be discussing this aspect, as the focus of this post is solely on Korean language learning.

 

2. Key Takeaways

Slang / Term	Meaning	Notes
가슴 / 슴가	Chest / Breasts	“슴가” is a comic reversal of “가슴,” often used for childish humor
유방	Mammary glands	Medical or formal word
젖탱이	Crude slang for breasts	Offensive in most settings—Know it, don’t say it
역지사지	Idiom: putting oneself in another’s shoes	Classic four-character phrase

 

3. Cultural Insight: The Humor of “Wrong Answers Only”

This sketch plays on a universal comic trope: hearing something innocent as something dirty.
In Korea, this kind of humor isn’t just about laughs—it reflects:

– The social tension between formality and innuendo

– Gender dynamics in public humor

– The quick-switch between real emotions and comic persona (현타)

When Yoon Ga-i answers with “젖탱이,” it’s not just vulgarity—it’s the moment the audience bursts into disbelief, and her embarrassment becomes the punchline.

👉 This is 욕하면서 웃는 정서 (laughing while cursing): uncomfortable, but hilarious.

 

4. Language & Grammar Nuggets

– “되다” Contractions
→ 되다 → 되는 것이다 → 되는 겁니다
→ Expresses formal explanation: “That’s how it works.”

– “거거든요” Ending
→ 것 + 이 + 거든요
→ Means “because it’s that thing” — softens assertiveness.

– “-ㄹ까요?” Polite Guess
→ 무엇일까요? → “I wonder what it is?”
→ Used for light, respectful speculation.

 

❓ FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1. Is it okay to use words like “젖탱이” in daily conversation?

Not at all. It’s considered crude and offensive. These words appear in comedy sketches for shock value, but shouldn’t be used casually.

Q2. What does “슴가” mean, and is it less harsh than “젖탱이”?

“슴가” is a playful reversal of “가슴.” It’s childish and silly rather than vulgar, but still inappropriate in formal or polite settings.

Q3. Why do Koreans find this kind of humor funny?

Because it plays on embarrassment, reality check (현타), and the line between innocence and innuendo. It’s part of a cultural tolerance for “욕하면서 웃는 정서”—laughing while cursing, awkwardly but hilariously.

 

5. Know it, Don’t Say it

Some slang used here is intentionally crude or borderline vulgar—SNL Korea employs this for parody and shock value. That doesn’t mean learners should imitate them.

🧭 Cultural literacy over mimicry.
🎯 Learn the tone, not just the word.

 

6. Meet the Characters

– Yoon Ga-i – Her rising list of inappropriate guesses delivers the comedic escalation.

– Kim Hee-min – Plays the awkward intellectual, trying to steer the game with logic.

– Kim Ah-young – Turns a philosophical riddle into a sexual pun with “역시자X.”

– Lee Su-ji & Kwon Hyuk-soo – Moderators adding structure (and subtle judgment) to the chaos.