오징어

The use of '오징어' (ojingeo, meaning 'squid') as a slang term for an unattractive person originated in the 1970s and 80s with veteran comedian Baek Nam-bong's imitation of grilling squid. It became widely known after Baek Nam-bong started appearing on TV programs in the 1980s. The current 'Squid Maker' meme, however, began to gain popularity online around 2010, with its first presumed appearance in an online post in the summer of 2008. It later spread widely through stories shared on the radio show "Cultwo Show."

Oh-jing-uh

'오징어' (ojingeo) is an internet slang term referring to someone with an inferior or unattractive appearance. It originally stemmed from comedian Baek Nam-bong's imitation of grilling squid, where the squid's shriveled appearance was associated with an ugly face. As a meme popularizing around 2010, 'ojingeo' expanded beyond simply referring to an ugly person. It evolved to mean that even an ordinary person can look unattractive, like a squid, when standing next to a very handsome person. In this context, the handsome person is sometimes called an '오징어 제조기' (ojingeo jejogi, 'squid maker') or '오징어 공장 사장님' (ojingeo gongjang sajangnim, 'squid factory boss'). The term is also used self-deprecatingly to compare old electronic devices to newer models, calling one's own device an 'ojingeo.' Furthermore, it's used to criticize people who impose excessive lookism on others while being lenient about their own appearance. '오징어 지킴이' (ojingeo jikimi, 'squid protector') is a sarcastic term for women who, despite their boyfriends not being particularly handsome, become wary and believe other women might be interested in them.

All ages, both genders

• "One day, I went to see a movie with my boyfriend and saw Jang Dong-gun during a stage greeting. I thought, 'Oh, Jang Dong-gun isn't that special in real life,' but when I looked next to me, some squid was eating popcorn."
• "My iPhone 4 looks like a complete squid next to an iPhone 6 Plus."
• "Actors like Won Bin or Jang Dong-gun have the ability to turn everyone around them into squids."
• When Lotteria held a 'Draw Your Own Squid' contest, many netizens reacted self-deprecatingly, saying, "I could submit a drawing of my own face."
• In the spin-off content "Friends Story" quest of the online game MapleStory, there's a quest titled <I've Become a Squid>.
• During the popularity of "Squid Game" in 2021, messages like "You are just a squid. You cannot participate." were sent to an unspecified number of people.

The term '오징어' (ojingeo) inherently carries a derogatory meaning regarding appearance. Therefore, caution should be exercised when using it directly on others or for evaluating someone's looks, as it can cause offense. It is generally used for self-deprecating humor. Derivative terms like '오징어 지킴이' (squid protector) also carry a strong sarcastic nuance, so they should be used carefully.