역주행 (yeokjuhaeng) — An older release becoming popular again.
Lesson 56 in our Korean Slang series, adapted from Korean Your Teacher Doesn’t Teach You by Injin Hwang. This expression appears in the book’s fandom and entertainment section.
What 역주행 means
A song released years ago can 역주행 when new listeners push it back up charts or into public attention. The situation and tone help determine how natural the expression sounds.
A short conversation
A: 이 노래 예전 노래 아니야?
B: 맞아, 요즘 역주행 중이야.
A: Isn’t this an older song?
B: Yes, it is climbing the charts again.
Use it with care
Literally means moving in the opposite direction. In entertainment it is figurative; it does not mean playing a song backward.
A neutral or polite alternative: 예전 노래가 다시 인기를 얻고 있어요. — The older song is popular again.
Try it yourself
Does 역주행 mean the artist released a new song?
Answer: No. The earlier release gains fresh popularity. Read the Korean exchange aloud, then replace one detail with something from your own life.
Learn the rest of the series in Basic Korean Grammar. Find more expressions in the Korean slang book on Amazon.
