이른바 이른바 is an adjective that means "so-called" or "alleged". Those both have a negative feeling in English. But I think it also means "what is called" or "what you call", which has a neutral feeling in English. Is it similar to the expression -(이)라는 or -(이)라고 하는? For example: 그는 이른바 우등생이다 He is what is called an honor student. Does it have the same meaning as: 그는 우등생이라는 사람이다. He is a person that is called an honor student. 감사합니다!