Travel Phrases — Entry No. 0210
배달
delivery · noun
배달
delivery
[BAE-dal]
nounbeginner
Meaning
배달 means ‘delivery,’ and in modern Korea it almost exclusively evokes food delivery. Korea has one of the world’s most advanced delivery cultures, powered by apps like 배달의민족 (Baemin) that can bring virtually any meal to your door within 30 minutes. K-drama fans will recognize it instantly as characters routinely bond over late-night delivery fried chicken or jajangmyeon.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Delivery food scenes are practically a K-drama love language — in ‘Reply 1988,’ the neighborhood families’ shared delivery meals symbolize warmth and community in 1980s Seoul. BTS members have frequently mentioned ordering 치킨 배달 (fried chicken delivery) in V-Live streams and behind-the-scenes content, making it a relatable glimpse into idol daily life. The delivery app 배달의민족 (Baemin), whose name literally means ‘the delivery people of Korea,’ has collaborated with K-pop artists for campaigns, cementing 배달 as a full-blown cultural icon.
Example Sentences
배달 시켜 먹을까?
Baedal sikyeo meogeul kka?
Shall we order delivery? (casual suggestion between friends — the classic Korean rainy-day plan)
배달 왔어요!
Baedal wasseoyo!
The delivery is here! (enthusiastic announcement heard in nearly every K-drama apartment scene)
오늘 저녁은 배달로 먹자.
Oneul jeonyeogeun baedal-ro meokja.
Let’s eat delivery for dinner tonight. (the unspoken K-drama couple ritual that signals domestic comfort)
⚠️ Don’t use delivery when…
Many fans stress the second syllable, saying ‘bae-DAL’ — Korean syllables carry relatively even stress, so aim for a flat BAE-dal. Also, 배달 refers to the service or act of delivery; the person who delivers is 배달원 (baedal-won) or 배달부 (baedal-bu) — mixing them up is like calling the pizzeria ‘the pizza boy.’
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Reply 1988 — the families of Ssangmun-dong gather in the alleyway to share delivery jajangmyeon and fried chicken, one of the drama’s most beloved recurring images of communal joy.
- K-Pop: BTS — ‘Life Goes On’
💡 Did You Know? Korea processes over 80 million food delivery orders per month, giving it one of the highest per-capita delivery rates in the world — a fact K-drama set designers have clearly taken to heart.
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.