The Journal of Studies in Language ISSN:1225-4770(Print) 2671-6151(Online) 언어연구

Integrating mixed Korean and English in on-screen captions (telop) of Korean TV entertainment shows has become increasingly common in recent years. This study examines English Romanization within the telops featured in 102 episodes of 78 entertainment shows aired between December 2018 and May 2021, aiming to identify its diverse types and roles. The analysis reveals that English Romanization fulfills several functions, including: 1) creation of language play through innovative fusion of Korean and English; 2) provision of concise content summaries and contextual cues for specific scenes, thereby enhancing viewer comprehension; and 3) effective alignment with popular sentiments by incorporating trendy language features like neologisms and digital jargon. English Romanization reinforces these functions, particularly due to its visual saliency. The recurrent presence of English in entertainment show telops and its enthusiastic reception by the public may indicate heightened bilingual competence in Korean society.