백마 What does 백마 mean in Korean?
Meaning
Literally “white horse.” Crude slang for a white woman, usually from Europe or North America.
It shows up mostly in men’s online communities, and it treats women as a prize or a fantasy rather than as people. Many Koreans consider it vulgar, and the women it describes usually find it offensive.
Where it comes from
백baek · white, referring to skin color
마ma · horse
백마A “white horse.” The crude expression 백마 타다 (“to ride a white horse”) is where the sexual undertone comes from
Don’t mix it up with this
백마 탄 왕자 (“a prince on a white horse”) is a completely innocent phrase, the Korean version of Prince Charming. Context makes the difference, which is exactly why it’s worth knowing both.
백마 탄 왕자를 기다리고 있어.
I’m waiting for my Prince Charming. (innocent and very common)
What to say instead
백인 여성 · white woman (neutral)서양 여성 · Western woman (neutral)캐나다 사람, 미국 사람… · or simply use the nationality
그 사람은 캐나다 사람이에요.
She’s Canadian.
Check yourself
Your Korean friend asks how to describe a woman from Canada. What’s best?