그건 니가

The meme name 'Geugeon Niga' (Korean: 그건 니가), pronounced 'Guh-gun Nee-gah,' means 'That's because you...' or 'That's on you.'

The 'Geugeon Niga' meme began to gain popularity online from the second half of 2018.

This meme is an expression used to fundamentally block and criticize an opponent's opinion or statement. It is primarily used to dismiss an opponent's argument as wrong or worthless, implying that the fault lies with the opponent themselves. Similar to expressions that dismiss an opponent's statement by attacking their character or status (e.g., 'Next XX,' 'Try-hard joke'), it constitutes an ad hominem fallacy, attacking the messenger rather than the message, effectively shutting down further discussion.

The origin of this meme comes from a photo posted on Instagram by soccer player Karim Benzema in August 2017. At the time, Benzema's unique attire, sunglasses, and a pose where he appeared to point his finger at someone were striking, leading to its popularity online.

It originated mainly in the DC Inside Overseas Football Gallery and spread to various online communities, widely used primarily by males in their late teens to 30s. It tends to be actively consumed, especially in communities focused on specific topics such as sports and games.

This meme is primarily used to mock or provoke an opponent in clickbait posts or argumentative situations.

• Common Use: A post with a title like "Why today's OO game was boring" is followed by the Benzema image and the phrase "That's because you're an XXX fan," used to ridicule an opposing team or player.
• Positive Variation: In communities like the Suneung Gallery (Korean college entrance exam community), it's sometimes used for warm encouragement with a title like "The user who will get a top grade" and the image, adding "It's you!"
• Self-deprecation/Reflection: The image is sometimes Photoshopped to make Benzema appear to be pointing at himself, changing the phrase to "That's because I..." to convey self-deprecation or reflection.

• Parody: Actor Han Sang-jin, aware of the meme that he resembles Karim Benzema, even posted a parody photo on Instagram with a similar pose.

'Geugeon Niga' is an expression that can disregard an opponent's opinion and lead to personal attacks, so caution is required when using it. Especially in arguments, if this meme is repeated like a parrot when one has nothing else to say, it can be perceived as an illogical attitude. Furthermore, in certain communities, it can be distorted into a racist meaning by being used with photos of Black celebrities, along with phrases like "Geugeon Nigga??" (That's Nigga??). Therefore, its use in such contexts must be absolutely avoided.