발버둥을 치다 (bal-beo-doong-eul chi-da) – to struggle/squirm
This phrase can be used to describe physical struggles and also mental struggles.
Mental struggles as in struggling with work, life or relationships.
Examples:
우리 아이는 워한 걸 주지 않으면 자꾸 발버둥을 치면서 울어.
If we don’t give what our baby wants, he would constantly struggle while crying.
사람들은 이 세계에서 성공을 위해 발버둥을 쳐.
People struggle hard in order to succeed in this world.