여름이었다

This meme began on Twitter in 2019. A Twitter user, struggling to come up with ideas for poetry, received advice from another user: "Just write some nonsense and add 'It was summer.' at the end, and it'll sound plausible." This tweet gained significant traction and started spreading. As the tweet was heavily retweeted, it expanded beyond Twitter to various online communities.

The "It was summer" meme originated from the idea that appending this phrase to the end of any sentence gives it an emotional and poignant feel. It is primarily used to create humor by presenting absurd or ridiculous content, then adding "It was summer" at the end, which creates a sense of disconnect with the preceding text. Initially, users would create their own sentences and attach the phrase. Later, it evolved into a way to abruptly conclude conversations in comment sections after exchanging nonsensical remarks. The original spelling was '여름이엇다' (yeoreumieotda), but it is now commonly spelled "여름이었다" (yeoreumieotda) to adhere to standard orthography.

The Korean phrase "여름이었다" (Yeoreumieotda) can be approximated for English speakers as: "Yuh-reum-ee-uht-dah"

• Yuh-reum: Sounds like "yuh" as in "yummy," followed by "reum" as in "forum."
• ee-uht-dah: Sounds like "ee" as in "see," followed by "uht" as in "but," and ending with "dah" as in "dahling."

The meme started primarily among younger generations who actively use internet communities and social media, then gradually spread to all age groups. It gained widespread recognition to the extent that Olympic gold medalist An San used it in her remarks, and it was parodied in webtoons, advertisements, and even comedy shows.

This meme is primarily used by writing sentences far removed from lyrical or sentimental emotions and then appending "It was summer" to maximize the disconnect between the two parts.

Example: "Would you care for a Clorox on the rocks?" the waiter asked me. I wasn't feeling well today and simply gazed out the window. When I said nothing, the waiter asked again. "Would you care for a Clorox on the rocks?" I replied, "The usual, please. Oh, and this time, add sulfuric acid sauce and a touch of cyanide." "Are you envious of lovers, sir, or do you sometimes regret things past?" Silence fell once more. "Both, I suppose." "Everyone experiences both at some point in life." "I don't quite understand. Are you saying you've never had a lover in your life, sir?" "I wouldn't exactly say that... but yes." The sunset was particularly bright that day. My mood, however, was just as gloomy. After downing the last Clorox on the rocks, even the sunset began to fade. It was summer.

This meme is primarily used in ironic and humorous situations, so it's best not to use it in serious or formal settings. Using it out of context can lead to misunderstandings or make you appear thoughtless.