What does 사생 (sasaeng) mean?
- 사생sasaeng
Stalker fan
Casual: friends and people younger than you
사생 (sasaeng) is short for 사생팬, an obsessive fan who invades a celebrity's private life, for example by following them, waiting outside their home or getting their personal phone number. It is a strongly negative word, close to "stalker fan".
Where it comes from
사생 means "private life" (as in 사생활), and 팬 is "fan". So a 사생팬 is a fan who goes after an idol's private life.
How to use 사생
You hear 사생 in news stories and fan discussions about idols being followed to airports, dorms or hotels, or having their private flights and phone numbers leaked. Agencies and fans regularly speak out against it.
Most fans are very clear that 사생 are not real fans, and calling someone a 사생 is a serious accusation. It is never a compliment or a joke about being a big fan.
If you just mean a passionate fan, use 덕후 (deokhu) or say someone is a big fan (찐팬). Keep 사생 for behavior that crosses the line.
Examples
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Reacting to news about an idol being followed
Correcting someone in a fan chat
Passing on news to a friend
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 사생팬 | Stalker fan | The full form. |
| 사생활 | Private life | The word 사생 comes from. |
| 사생택시 | Sasaeng taxi | Taxis hired to chase idols' cars. |
Questions learners ask
What is a sasaeng fan?
A fan who invades a celebrity's private life by stalking them, tracking their schedule or contacting them privately. The behavior is widely condemned.
Is sasaeng the same as a big fan?
No. A big, devoted fan is a 덕후 or 찐팬. 사생 is only for fans who cross into stalking and harassment.