겜알못

"Gem-al-mot" (pronounced roughly as "gem-ahl-moht")

The '겜알못' meme originated in 2011 from a statement by former StarCraft pro gamer Heo Yeong-moo. During a slump, Heo Yeong-moo responded to fan criticism on his mini-homepage with the post, "You guys who don't even know how to play games. Do you want to come and try it yourselves?" This statement was shortened to '겜알못' and popularized within the StarCraft community, particularly on 'S-Gall' (StarCraft Gallery). It then spread beyond the gaming world to become a widely used internet slang term. It remains one of the long-standing memes actively used to this day.

'겜알못' is an abbreviation of "게임 알지도 못하는 사람" (gaem aljido mothaneun saram), meaning "someone who doesn't even know how to play games." It is a slang term referring to a person who lacks knowledge or understanding of games. Initially, it was used with a derogatory or mocking nuance towards people with poor gaming skills or knowledge. However, over time, its usage expanded to include self-deprecating expressions or lighthearted teasing among close friends. It can also be used humbly when asking questions about an unfamiliar field, for example, "I'm a 'short-al-mot' (meaning I don't know much about short selling), but..."

'겜알못' is the progenitor of the broader '알못' (al-mot) series, where '알못' is a suffix meaning "someone who doesn't know" or "a layman" in a specific field. Its antonym is '겜잘알' (gam-jal-al), which refers to someone who is very knowledgeable or skilled in a particular field, especially games.

This meme primarily originated and spread within gaming communities, especially among esports fandoms. Currently, it is widely used by young generations, from teenagers to those in their thirties, who enjoy games, as well as by both men and women familiar with internet culture. As the suffix '알못' has been applied to various fields, it has become a universal internet term that can be used by anyone interested in a specific topic.

• "You're a complete 'gam-al-mot'! This much is basic!"
• "I'm a 'gam-al-mot,' so how should I raise this character?"
• "What do you know, you 'gam-al-mot,' to be talking so much?"
• "This game is well-made so even 'gam-al-mots' can easily enjoy it."