따갚되

Tah-gahp-dweh

This meme first gained popularity around 2015 in the Loan Gallery of DC Inside, a popular South Korean internet community. It emerged amidst discussions related to securing gambling funds at the time. Later, it spread more widely with composite images from 'Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji' and is still used metaphorically in various fields today.

'Ttagapdoe' is an abbreviation of "따서 갚으면 되잖아" (Tta-seo gap-eu-myeon doe-jan-a), which means "Just win it back and pay it off." It was primarily used to express the irrational mindset of gambling addicts who, after losing money, believe they can win it back in the next round to pay off their debts. This logic is similar to the Martingale betting strategy, signifying an attitude of continuously taking risks based on a vague expectation of eventual success. While originally stemming from a negative context related to gambling, its meaning has expanded to metaphorically describe an attitude of taking a risk, committing to something, and then trying to fix or recover from it later. It can essentially be seen as a form of moral hazard.

This meme is familiar to users of internet communities like DC Inside. As it is used metaphorically in various fields beyond gambling, including economics, gaming, and daily life, its usage is broad and not limited to a specific age group or gender.

• It is used by illegal gambling sites or lottery number prediction sites to entice users who have lost money or are hesitant to rejoin, by suggesting, "Just win it back this time and pay it off."
• At a national level, 'ttagapdoe' is also used metaphorically. For instance, wartime requisitions, the predatory economies of fascist states, or the cases where late-comer capitalist nations borrowed massive foreign capital to drive industrialization are sometimes described as 'ttagapdoe' gambles on the nation's fate.
• The anecdote of FedEx founder Frederick W. Smith, who overcame early business difficulties by gambling his last remaining money, is also cited as a successful example of 'ttagapdoe.'
• LOL pro gamer Effort was nicknamed 'Ttagapdoe-type Supporter' after an interview where he stated, not "I won't make mistakes," but rather "Even if I make mistakes, I just need to play that much better."

'Ttagapdoe' originated from the irrational mindset of gambling addicts, so applying it indiscriminately in reality can lead to severe financial and social problems. Specifically, it cannot be used as an excuse for criminal acts such as embezzlement or breach of trust. Even if profit is generated from such acts, the crime itself is recognized, and the proceeds are forfeited to the national treasury. Care should be taken in its use, as it can be misunderstood as justifying moral hazard.