What does 교포 (gyopo) mean?
- 교포gyopo
Korean living abroad
Fine in most situations
교포 (gyopo) means an ethnic Korean who lives abroad, especially someone born or raised overseas, like a Korean American or Korean Canadian. In Korea it is often used for people who look Korean but grew up speaking another language.
Where it comes from
교 means "living away from home" and 포 comes from 동포, "fellow countrymen". You can add a place: 재미교포 is a Korean living in America, 재일교포 a Korean living in Japan.
How to use 교포
교포 is a common, mostly neutral word, and many overseas Koreans call themselves 교포. You also hear 교포 발음 (gyopo accent) for the way some overseas Koreans speak Korean.
The word can sometimes make people feel like outsiders, since it marks them as not fully "from Korea". Official language often uses 재외동포 (overseas Koreans) instead.
Different communities have different histories. For example, 재일교포 refers to Koreans in Japan, many descended from people who moved there during the colonial period, so it is worth learning each group's story.
Examples
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Introducing yourself in Korea
Explaining a friend's fluent English
Chatting at a language exchange
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 재미교포 | Korean American | 재미 means "living in America". |
| 재일교포 | Korean living in Japan | Also called 재일동포. |
| 재외동포 | Overseas Koreans | Official, more inclusive term. |
| 교포 2세 | Second-generation gyopo | Born abroad to Korean parents. |
Questions learners ask
What does gyopo mean?
It means an ethnic Korean living abroad, especially someone raised overseas, like a Korean American.
Is gyopo offensive?
Not usually. Many overseas Koreans use it for themselves. Some feel it marks them as outsiders, so the official term is 재외동포.
What does jaemi gyopo mean?
재미교포 means a Korean living in America, or a Korean American.