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VISITKOREA — Let’s say ‘JINJJA’ in Korea

Four friends fly into Daegu and road-trip through Gangwon and Gyeongsang, and every big view gets the same reaction: “Jinjja!” Here’s what the word means and how to use it.

By K for All editors · 2 min read

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Updated Oct 19, 2026VISITKOREA · YouTube

VISITKOREA — Let’s say ‘JINJJA’ in Korea

Official channel: VISITKOREA · YouTube

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What it is

A 2½-minute travel film the Korea Tourism Organization posted in July 2026, and it has passed 63 million views. Starting at Daegu International Airport, four friends visit 13 spots, including Daegu Spark Land, Dojjaebigol Sky Valley and Haerang Observatory in Donghae, Daegeumgul Cave in Samcheok, Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol and Cheongnyangsa Temple in Bonghwa. High above the city, walking over the sea, or facing nature shaped over thousands of years, they all shout the same word: “Jinjja!”

What ‘jinjja’ means

The film calls jinjja (진짜) a word to know before you visit Korea. The National Institute of Korean Language’s Basic Korean Dictionary lists it as a noun for something authentic, not an imitation or a fake, and as an adverb meaning “genuinely, really.” Your tone does the rest: “Jinjja!” is amazement, “Jinjja…?” is doubt (“Really?”), and a drawn-out “Jinjja~” is pure delight. With friends the word alone is fine; with strangers or older people, “Jinjjayo?” (진짜요?) sounds more polite.

More on K for All

Korean language guideKorean lessonsKorean word of the dayDojjaebigol Sky Valley (in the film)

Sources (2)

VISITKOREA official YouTube — Let’s say ‘JINJJA’ in Korea (description lists the 13 spots)National Institute of Korean Language — Basic Korean Dictionary, ‘진짜’

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