1. What does it mean?

월급루팡 combines salary with Lupin, the fictional gentleman thief. It likens taking pay while contributing little to stealing a salary. People sometimes use it self-deprecatingly on an unusually quiet workday.

Also written or said as wolgeumnupang

2. The nuance

Calling a colleague this can be insulting and unfair when their work is not visible. It is a metaphor, not evidence of theft or misconduct.

3. Examples

“일이 일찍 끝나서 잠깐 월급루팡 된 기분이었어.”

I finished early and briefly felt like I was being paid to do nothing.

“쉬는 모습만 보고 월급루팡이라고 판단하지 마.”

Don't judge someone as a salary thief just because you saw them taking a break.

Related words

Sources

Hanglow

References support the meaning and usage. Example sentences are written for NoCapWiki.