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'Wol-geup Lu-pang' is a neologism that began to gain popularity around 2011. A similar term, 'Wol-geup Do-duk' (salary thief), started to be widely used along with 'O-ryuk-do' after the 1997 Asian financial crisis. By April 2, 2013, 'Wol-geup Lu-pang' was so well-known that its meaning was featured as a question on the quiz show '1 vs 100'.

'Wol-geup Lu-pang' refers to an employee who consistently receives their salary despite not properly performing their assigned duties. They are also sometimes called 'Wol-geup Do-duk' (salary thief) or 'Wol-geup Beol-le' (salary bug). The term originates from the image of an employee seemingly "stealing" their salary from the company, much like the famous French master thief Arsène Lupin. It is often abbreviated to 'Wol-lu'. The use of 'Lu-pang' instead of 'Lupin' is presumed to be influenced by the popular anime 'Lupin the 3rd', which is more familiar to the public.

This meme differs from 'tae-eop' (go-slow or sabotage). While 'tae-eop' is aimed at expressing dissatisfaction or protest against an employer or society, 'Wol-geup Lu-pang' refers to cases where an individual fails to perform their duties properly due to personal laziness or lack of ability, without any specific ulterior motive. In other words, if 'tae-eop' is intentionally not working despite being capable, 'Wol-geup Lu-pang' is closer to being unable to perform due to a lack of competence. In the West, a similar concept is sometimes referred to as 'Quiet Quitting'.

Wul-geup Loo-pahng

This meme is widely used among office workers, creating a sense of shared understanding and empathy. Given that the majority of society consists of employees, an online atmosphere has formed where people understand and laugh about each other's 'Wol-geup Lu-pang' behaviors. It is not limited to a specific age group or gender but is used by all age groups engaged in professional work.

• "I'm diligently 'wol-lu-ing' today too. Watching YouTube while having a cup of coffee!"
• "There's a real 'wol-lu' on our team; I have no idea what they do all day."
• "I'm so busy these days, I don't even have time to 'wol-lu'."
• "Since I don't get paid like a master thief, I'm just a petty salary thief."
• "Just sitting quietly in meetings, 'pretending to listen diligently'."
• "Only doing other things during work-free hours."

'Wol-geup Lu-pang' inherently carries a negative connotation. Therefore, it may not be appropriate to use in formal settings or in front of superiors. Additionally, referring to diligent colleagues or subordinates as 'Wol-geup Lu-pang' can cause misunderstandings or offense, so caution is advised.