ㅋㅋ
Korean text laugh written with the consonant ㅋ
Meaning
ㅋㅋ marks laughter, smiling, or light amusement in text. The tone shifts from real laughter to polite filler with count and context. It is casual and used widely by Korean speakers in messages and online comments.
Origin
The exact first use is unknown. It is commonly credited to late 1990s Korean PC chat culture. The form is read as a shortening of sounds like kiki, keukeu, and kikik. It spread through SMS, messenger apps, boards, and blog comments and remains in wide use.
How it's used
People add it after a joke, an awkward remark, or to soften tone. One ㅋ reads as a small smile, while a long string reads as stronger laughter. It acts as an interjection and does not inflect, though length changes the force.
Example
That film was so funny ㅋㅋ I missed the subtitle.
Variants & related
Common forms include ㅎㅎ, ㅋㅋㅋ, and longer strings like ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ. ㅎㅎ sounds softer and more polite, while ㅋㅋ sounds brighter. Related forms include ㅠㅠ for crying and lol borrowed from English.
Common misunderstandings
Outsiders sometimes read a short ㅋ as mockery when it is only filler. A single ㅋ can feel cold to Korean readers. It is informal and does not fit formal email or work reports.