TWICE's Jihyo's 'Ung-eung-eung' Expression Sparks Netizens' Debate: 'Misandry' vs. 'Internet Slang'

Jihyo of the group TWICE is posing
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Sung-yeol] Jihyo, a member of the idol group TWICE, has sparked ongoing debates among netizens by using the word 'ung-aeng-ung' during communication with fans.

On the 5th, during a V Live broadcast, Jihyo explained her absence during the Mnet 'MAMA' event held in Japan while interacting with fans through chat.

She said, "I couldn't come out in the middle of the stage, but some attention-seekers kept saying 'ung-aeng-ung,' so I'm explaining. I was just feeling unwell. There was a target to shoot at, so it might have been fun, but I'm sorry."

She added, "I couldn't help being sick."

Jihyo's chat content during V Live / Photo by V Live capture

Some argue that Jihyo's use of 'ung-aeng-ung' is a misogynistic expression that disparages men. Recently, 'ung-aeng-ung' has been mainly used on male-hating websites and has become established as a 'misandry' term. Because of this, in male-dominated communities, the term is often used sarcastically.

Singer San E also released a song titled 'Ung-aeng-ung' on his YouTube channel, criticizing female supremacists in a similar context.

However, 'ung-aeng-ung' originated as a slang term on Twitter. It began with a user posting that, compared to the clear sound of gunshots ("bang!"), the dialogue sounded like mumbling or muttering, similar to "ung-aeng-ung chokipoki," mimicking the sound effects in Korean movies.

There continues to be controversy among netizens about whether this expression indeed promotes specific 'gender hatred.'

Additionally, there are criticisms that Jihyo's attitude was inappropriate. The term 'attention-seeker' refers to someone who craves attention, and some believe it was careless to use it to describe all fans who care about Jihyo. Others felt that phrases like "there was a target to shoot at, so it might have been fun" were too aggressive.

Previously, TWICE attended the '2019 MAMA (Mnet Asian Music Awards)' held at Nagoya Dome in Japan on the 2nd of last month. The group's leader, Jihyo, disappeared from the stage midway and was not seen even when TWICE received the female group award and went on stage.

This led to various speculations among netizens, and it is presumed that Jihyo directly addressed fans to clarify the situation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.