Independent field guide · Glossary
K-beauty & injectable terms, decoded (Korean ↔ English)
Korean clinic menus are full of brand names and nicknames. Here's what 물광주사, 리쥬란, 슈링크, 써마지 and the rest actually mean in English.
5 min read
Walk into a Seoul clinic or scroll a Korean price list and you'll hit a wall of brand names, device names, and nicknames — often with no English. Most of them map to a small number of treatment types once you know the code.
This is a plain-English decoder for the terms visitors run into most. It's general information; the clinic confirms what a specific menu item actually involves.
Section 01
Injectables & skin-quality terms
Anything ending in 주사 (jusa) is an injection. These improve skin or add volume.
| Korean | Romanized | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 물광주사 | Mulgwang jusa | "Aqua glow injection" — usually a hyaluronic-acid skin booster for hydration/glow |
| 리쥬란 | Rejuran | PDRN / "salmon DNA" skin-quality injectable |
| 쥬베룩 | Juvelook | PDLLA collagen-stimulating injectable (gradual firmness) |
| 보톡스 | Botox | Muscle-relaxing injection (movement lines, jaw/calf slimming) |
| 필러 | Filler | Volume injection (cheeks, lips, chin, under-eye) |
| 스킨보톡스 / 더모톡신 | Skin Botox / Dermotoxin | Micro-dosed toxin for pores/oil/fine texture |
| 엑소좀 | Exosome | Newer skin-quality treatment, often paired with lasers — ask the clinic what a product actually contains |
| 샤넬주사 | "Chanel" injection | Nickname for a mesotherapy skin cocktail — ask what's in it |
Section 02
Lifting & energy devices
리프팅 (lifting) treatments use energy devices. Many names are device brands.
| Korean | Romanized | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 울쎄라 | Ulthera (Ultherapy) | Focused-ultrasound (HIFU) lifting |
| 슈링크 | Shurink (Shrink) | A popular Korean HIFU lifting device |
| 써마지 | Thermage | Radiofrequency (RF) tightening |
| 올리지오 | Oligio | Korean RF tightening device |
| 인모드 | InMode | RF device (lifting/contouring) |
| 덴서티 / 텐써마 | Density / Tensurma | Other RF/lifting devices |
Section 03
Lasers, skin concerns & body
레이저 (laser) and concern words you'll see on tone, pigment, and pore menus.
| Korean | Romanized | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 레이저토닝 | Laser toning | Gentle laser for tone/pigment, low downtime |
| 프락셀 / 프락셔널 | Fraxel / Fractional | Resurfacing laser for texture/scars — real downtime |
| 색소 / 잡티 / 기미 | Saekso / Japti / Gimi | Pigment / spots / melasma |
| 모공 | Mogong | Pores |
| 흉터 | Hyungteo | Scars (e.g. acne scars) |
| 탄력 | Tallyeok | Skin elasticity / firmness |
| 윤곽주사 / 브이라인 | Yungwak jusa / V-line | Contouring injection / jawline slimming |
Frequently asked
Frequently asked
What does 물광주사 (mulgwang jusa) mean?
It translates to "aqua glow injection" and usually refers to a hyaluronic-acid skin booster — micro-injections that deeply hydrate the skin for a glow, rather than adding volume or relaxing muscles. Exact products vary by clinic, so confirm what's used.
Is 슈링크 (Shrink) the same as Ultherapy?
They're both HIFU (focused-ultrasound) lifting, but different devices. Ultherapy is the original branded device; Shurink (슈링크) is a widely-used Korean HIFU device, often offered at a lower price point. The clinic can explain the difference for your goals.
What is a 'Chanel injection' in Korea?
It's a nickname (not an official product) for a mesotherapy-style skin cocktail injected to improve glow and texture. Because "Chanel injection" can mean different formulas at different clinics, ask exactly what's in it before agreeing.
Related guides
Related guides
Botox in Korea: what visitors ask, from types to prices
Dermal filler in Korea: areas, products, and how it differs from Botox and boosters
Radiofrequency lifting in Korea: Thermage, Oligio, Potenza, InMode and how they differ
Laser treatments in Korea: toning, pigmentation, darker skin, and resurfacing
Related treatments
This guide is general information to help you prepare — it is not medical advice. Suitability, the final treatment plan, and pricing are confirmed only by a licensed clinic.
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