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Introduction
Konglish is a blend of Korean and English found throughout South Korea, and often suffers for lack of prestige amongst Koreans. The primary aim of this article is to determine the reasons behind Konglish's low social status in Korea. I begin my investigation by exploring Korean public space as linguistic space, and examining in what social and cultural capacities Koreans use English, Mandarin, Korean, and Konglish. I then shift in part II to discuss perceptions of Korean and English inside Korea. Having analysed Koreans' attitudes towards Konglish's parent languages, I discuss in part III why Konglish struggles for social legitimacy, despite its ubiquity. In the course of this investigation it will become clear that Koreans often deride Konglish for its ease of use. Because one absorbs it organically through cultural exposure rather than hours of study and millions of won in tuition fees, Konglish accords none of the prestige that comes with Standard English; meanwhile, Konglish's mixed nature means not only that it cannot benefit from the national pride Koreans associate with 'pure' Korean, but also that this pride harms Konglish's reception throughout the country.
I:...[Hangugui Eoneo, 'Language in Korea']
Navigating the subway in South Korea's capital city of Seoul is an easy feat for native Anglophones and Mandarin-speakers alike. With audio directions issued in Korean and English, and maps posted prominently in all three languages, Seoul's metro efficiently serves the linguistic needs of the majority of its users. But it may also be of use to those studying the balance of languages spoken in Korea. Subway signage and announcements make it clear that Korean, English, and Mandarin are the languages most prevalent in Korea today. Further, Seoul's subway system topographically reflects this reality in miniature. As Kang (2011) explains,´OE [Ichon] Station derives its Korean name from Chinese: '[i]n Chinese characters, Ichon means two villages. There are two villages on an island in the middle of the Han River ... giving the area its name.' China's early linguistic influence on Korea is thus evident in the name Ichon itself. Meanwhile, more recently developed areas bear names like...[Gasan Dijiteol Danji, 'Gasan Digital Complex'] and ...[Guro Dijiteol Danji, 'Guro Digital Complex']1. In each case, a key part of...