Koreans React To The Viral “Hongdae Guy” Meme Sweeping The Globe
Viral videos of “Hongdae guys” have quickly taken over social media this year.
Many videos have gone viral outside of Korea, portraying a stereotypical “Hongdae f***boy,” also known as a Hannam in Korean.
Hannam 이라는 거 대체 어디까지 유명해진 건데 pic.twitter.com/4AHeKF5sqX
— 자연눈물 (@tearsinnature) June 24, 2025
These men are mocked online as being promiscuous and even predatory as they try to lure in foreign women.
https://t.co/Igp6yX2RbK pic.twitter.com/1DiPutG7NR
— 거무 (@gumu_310) June 25, 2025
The memes have spread like wildfire, even making an appearance on Duolingo where the app joked about teaching some of their iconic phrases.
Some Korean netizens feel the spread of the meme is an embarrassment to the country, though they agree with the contents (They find issue with the stereotypical men the videos are based on, not the people who mock them). Additionally, some people think the only problem with the first video is that the actor is too handsome!
- “Ugh, now the whole world knows how pathetic hannams are. Serves them right for not knowing when to stop. Idiots.”
- “LMAO this is way too funny.”
- “But his face doesn’t match!”
- “Totally didn’t expect Ellio to pop up here, what a surprise LOL”
- “The fact that the face casting is so off is hilarious lol.”
- “Even my foreign friend who’s not into Korean culture knows the Hongdae fboy meme…”
- “His face is totally different tho…”
- “Aside from the face, it’s a perfect reenactment.”
