What Does This Mean?
Korean fandom and subculture slang for an ordinary person outside a given fan culture, for example someone who does not follow idols, anime or cosplay. It is often used by fans among themselves, sometimes neutrally and sometimes with a condescending edge, and outsiders may find it odd when used in everyday talk.
REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE
"She knows every member's name, but her coworkers are total 머글 and ask which one is the leader."
LORE & ORIGIN
Borrowed from the Harry Potter novels, where "Muggle" (머글) names a person without magical ability. Namuwiki describes the Korean fandom sense as a later extension of that word, and says a similar older term, 우민, circulated in 1990s PC-communication otaku communities. Ten Asia (2014-08-07) already glosses 머글 as "일반인", people who do not take part in fan activities. The year the fandom usage began is not given in the sources opened.
MENTIONS OVER TIME
Radar observation data not yet available for this term.
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TOP PLATFORMS
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