Korean Dictionary
How to say "FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)" in Korean
“FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)” in Korean is 소외감 (pronounced "sooeugam").
소외감
sooeugam
Usage & Context
소외감 literally means a feeling of alienation or being left out, and is often used in modern Korean internet culture similarly to the English term FOMO. Young Koreans frequently use this word when they see friends having fun without them on social media. It reflects the highly social and connected nature of Korean youth culture.
Example Sentence
친구들 SNS 보면 소외감 느껴.
I get FOMO seeing my friends on social media.
How to use 소외감 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)” is 소외감, romanized as sooeugam.
Usage tip
Use slang only with friends or people who already speak casually with you. It can sound rude in formal Korean.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 소외감.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced "So-weh-gam." "So" sounds like the 'so' in 'sofa'. "weh" is like 'way' but with a softer 'w' sound, similar to 'oe' in French 'oeil'. "gam" rhymes with 'gum'. The stress is fairly even across syllables.
More Example Sentences
A friend sharing their feelings after seeing social media posts.
혼자 집에 있는데 친구들이 파티하는 거 보니까 소외감 들었어.
I was home alone, and seeing my friends party made me feel FOMO.
A student lamenting about their summer plans compared to others.
다들 해외여행 가는데 나만 못 가서 소외감 느껴.
Everyone's going on overseas trips, and I'm the only one who can't, so I feel FOMO.
Someone feeling excluded from a social event.
그 모임에 나만 초대 못 받아서 소외감 느꼈어.
I was the only one not invited to that gathering, so I felt left out.
Cultural Context
소외감 is a strong feeling of being alienated or excluded. While it can be used for FOMO, it's more intense than just 'missing out,' implying a deeper sense of not belonging or being forgotten. In Korea, where group harmony and social connections are highly valued, feeling 소외감 can be particularly impactful, especially among younger generations heavily influenced by social media. K-dramas often depict characters struggling with 소외감 when they are ostracized or feel like an outsider.
Editorial note
We flag slang like 소외감 for register and audience, since Korean slang can shift quickly and may sound rude outside close friendships.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
소외감을 느끼다
to feel alienated/FOMO
소외감을 주다
to make someone feel alienated/FOMO
소외감에 시달리다
to suffer from a feeling of alienation/FOMO
Related Expressions
따돌림
ttadolim
ostracism, bullying (being left out by force)
외로움
oero-um
loneliness
박탈감
baktalgam
sense of deprivation, feeling of being robbed
소속감
sosokgam
sense of belonging (antonym)
More Slang Words
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