파도 파도 괴담

Pado Pado Gwedam

This meme's origin traces back to 2013, during the confirmation hearing for Prosecutor General nominee Chae Dong-wook. Assemblyman Park Beom-gye remarked, "Even if you dig and dig, only good stories come out," which was the first appearance of the phrase '파도 파도 미담' (Pado Pado Midam), forming the meme's etymology.

'Pado Pado Gwedam' (파도 파도 괴담) is a metaphorical expression describing a situation where, the more one delves into a particular person or subject, instead of positive anecdotes, only negative and unsettling rumors or facts continuously surface. It originated from the positively connoted phrase 'Pado Pado Midam' (meaning "even if you dig and dig, only good stories come out"), but it began to be used with 'Gwedam' (meaning "horror stories" or "scandals") as negative aspects of certain individuals were re-examined. It is also used in its abbreviated forms, 'Papagwe' (파파괴) or 'Kkakakgwe' (까까괴), which is short for 'Kkado Kkado Gwedam' (까도 까도 괴담, meaning "even if you peel and peel, only horror stories come out").

This meme is predominantly used within online communities, especially among younger generations who follow news about public figures such as celebrities, internet broadcasters, and sports fandoms (e.g., baseball fans). It is commonly observed among both males and females from their late teens to their thirties who are interested in sharing critical perspectives on specific individuals or events and exploring their past actions.

• It is used when past anecdotes of an athlete known for poor fan service are revealed, for example, "As expected, only horror stories emerge no matter how much you dig."
• When the past actions of a celebrity or internet broadcaster who caused controversy with careless remarks are re-examined, one might say, "I knew it, it's Papagwe."
• More recently, it's also adapted into the form of "O-seoun Story," using the first character of the subject's name. For instance, when negative stories about a person named 'Hong Gil-dong' surface, it might be titled or referred to as "Hong-seoun Story."

This meme is primarily used in the context of criticizing or mocking the negative aspects or past actions of specific individuals. Therefore, using unverified rumors or exaggerated content indiscriminately can lead to issues of defamation or the spread of false information, requiring caution. Furthermore, as it can be offensive to the subject, careful consideration should be given to its use.

Pah-doh Pah-doh Gweh-dahm