Nekarakubaedangtojigya
/ne-ka-ɾa-ku-bɛ-daŋ-to-dʑik-ja/
Definition
A Korean acronym combining the first syllables of nine tech companies developers and job seekers love to work for: Naver, Kakao, Line, Coupang, Baemin (Baedal Minjok), Danggeun Market, Toss, Zigbang, and Yanolja. It's shorthand for the "dream job" list.
Examples
- • My goal is to land a final offer from just one company on the Nekarakubaedangtojigya list.
- • Starting from Nekarakubae, Danggeun and Toss were added, then Zigbang and Yanolja, forming the full Nekarakubaedangtojigya.
Origin
Started around 2020 as "Nekarakubae" (Naver, Kakao, Line, Coupang, Baemin). In 2021, Danggeun Market and Toss raised starting salaries sharply and were added as "Dangto." Zigbang and Yanolja joined later to form the current nine-company version.
Description
Nekarakubaedangtojigya is a Korean slang acronym for nine domestic tech companies and unicorns, one that has kept expanding over time.
- Nekarakubae: Naver, Kakao, Line, Coupang, Baemin — the original five major IT companies.
- Dangto: Danggeun Market, Toss — added in 2021 after both companies raised starting salaries to roughly 60 million KRW, matching Nekarakubae-level benefits.
- Jigya: Zigbang, Yanolja — added later to complete today's nine-company list.
These companies are seen as "dream jobs" among Korea's MZ-generation developers, thanks to flexible work environments and strong pay and benefits. As the list keeps growing, though, some also note that it blurs the line with the true top-tier conglomerates like Samsung.