유망주
yumangju[ˈju(ː)ma̠ŋd͡ʑu]
To say rising star in Korean, meaning an emerging talent, use 유망주 (yumangju). If unsure, use 유망주. Wiktionary also lists 기대주 (gidaeju) and 샛별 (saetbyeol).
Meaning: emerging talent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 유망주 | yumangju | [ˈju(ː)ma̠ŋd͡ʑu] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 기대주 | gidaeju | [kidɛd͡ʑu] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [kide̞d͡ʑu] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 샛별 | saetbyeol | [ˈsʰɛ(ː)t̚p͈jʌ̹ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [ˈsʰɛ(ː)p͈jʌ̹ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
유망주 describes someone with high potential or a bright future and is the most common term in sports and business. To say someone is rising as a star, you can use 신예, as in 그 배우는 신예로 떠오르고 있어요, meaning that actor is rising as a star. Casually you can also say 떠오르는 스타, as in 그 가수는 떠오르는 스타야!, meaning that singer is an emerging star.
Which one should you use?
기대주 (gidaeju) puts the focus on how much people expect from that person. 샛별 (saetbyeol) literally means morning star and is a more poetic way to describe a rising star.
How do you pronounce it?
It is romanized as yumangju.
Did you know?
- In Korean sports and entertainment, a rising star with an overwhelming level of talent is frequently called a 괴물, which means 'monster'.
- The terms 유망주 and 기대주 treat a person's potential as a biological or financial asset, as the character 주 refers to both a tree stock and a company share.
- In Korean, the poetic term 샛별 (saetbyeol) can be traced back to the 15th-century epic poem 용비어천가 (Yongbi eocheon-ga), giving it a much more classical and literary feel than modern terms.
Examples in context
- 이번 대회에서 새로운 유망주를 발견했어요.ibeon daehoeeseo saeroun yumangjureul balgyeonhaesseoyo.I discovered a new rising star at this competition.
- 그는 차세대 유망주로 주목받고 있어요.geuneun chasedae yumangjuro jumokbatgo isseoyo.He is being noticed as a next-generation rising star.
Example conversation
Seoyeon and Dohyun are watching a talent show together.
- 서연 Seo-yeon도현 씨, 저 가수는 정말 대단하지 않아요?Dohyun ssi, jeo gasuneun jeongmal daedanhaji anayo?Dohyun, isn't that singer really amazing?
- 도현 Do-hyeon맞아요. 가요계의 진정한 유망주네요.majayo. gayogye-ui jinjeonghan yumangjuneyo.You're right. He is a true rising star in the music industry.
- 서연 Seo-yeon앞으로가 정말 기대되는 무대였어요.apeuroga jeongmal gidaedoeneun mudaeyeosseoyo.It was a performance that makes me look forward to the future.
- 도현 Do-hyeon곧 아주 유명해질 것 같아요.got aju yumyeong-haejil geot gatayo.I think he will become very famous soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rising star” translations and entries 유망주, 기대주, 샛별, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
