위 아래 위 위 아래

Wi Arae Wi Wi Arae

"Wee Ah-reh Wee Wee Ah-reh"

The "Wi Arae Wi Wi Arae" meme began to gain significant popularity on October 9, 2014, when a fan-cam video of EXID's Hani was uploaded to YouTube. This fan-cam quickly spread through online communities and social networking services, leading to a miraculous "chart-reversal" for EXID's digital single 'Up & Down' (Wi Arae), which had been released on August 27, 2014. The song re-entered the charts and started to climb in November 2014, reaching #1 on Melon's real-time chart by the end of December, and topping music shows in January 2015, creating a nationwide sensation.

This meme originated from the addictive chorus of girl group EXID's hit song 'Up & Down' (Wi Arae). The lyrics themselves express confusion over someone's ambiguous attitude and a desire for them to show their true feelings. However, as a meme, "Wi Arae Wi Wi Arae" goes beyond just the song lyrics; it has become an expression symbolizing EXID's "chart-reversal miracle," where they suddenly gained immense popularity from obscurity. It also refers to the song's signature hip-thrusting dance move, which involves moving up and down. Furthermore, it is metaphorically used to describe any situation involving significant ups and downs or high volatility.

This meme gained nationwide popularity alongside EXID's 'Up & Down' chart-reversal phenomenon, so it was widely used across all generations, not limited to a specific age or gender. While it was particularly active among K-pop fandoms and young people who enjoy popular music, the song itself became a national hit, making the phrase easily recognizable and singable by people of all ages and genders.