주작

The 'Jujak' meme first emerged in 2010 following the StarCraft match-fixing scandal. At that time, the word '조작' (jo-jak, meaning manipulation) was designated as a banned word. To circumvent this, people began using '주작' (ju-jak), a similar-sounding word, which marked its beginning. It later gained widespread popularity in 2019 when the vote manipulation scandal of Mnet's idol survival program 'Produce 101' series came to light. This incident, with media reports and investigations intensifying from mid-2019, caused significant social repercussions, and 'Jujak' firmly established itself as an internet meme used to criticize and satirize manipulated situations or results.

'Jujak' is internet slang for '조작' (manipulation). Originally, the Hanja word '주작 (做作)' meaning 'to fabricate facts' existed in Korean dictionaries. However, the internet meme 'Jujak' originated from changing the vowels of '조작' to bypass filtering during the 2010 StarCraft match-fixing scandal. Following the 'Produce 101' series vote manipulation incident, it is now widely used to criticize or mock situations where specific results were unfairly manipulated or intentionally fabricated. It is also used when a situation is too coincidental or unbelievable, or when someone's luck evokes jealousy or envy, often expressed as "아무튼 주작임" (Anyway, it's manipulation).

The 'Jujak' meme originated within the StarCraft fandom and spread across the internet. It is particularly prevalent among younger generations who enjoy online communities, games, and entertainment content. It became even more widely used among K-pop fandoms, especially viewers interested in idol survival programs, after the 'Produce 101' incident. As the meaning of the word can be intuitively inferred from context, it is broadly used even by those not specifically interested in StarCraft or K-pop, becoming a familiar expression for internet users of all ages.

• "Isn't this totally Jujak? How could such a result come out?"
• "Someone posted about winning the lottery, but anyway, it's Jujak."
• "When overly dramatic situations are staged on broadcast, comments like 'Jujak broadcast' appear."
• "When someone wins a game with unbelievable luck, they might be teased, saying 'it's Jujak'."
• "Let's share military stories that sound like Jujak."

The word 'Jujak' is slang referring to serious misconduct ('manipulation'), so caution is required when using it. Especially, accusing a specific person or group of 'Jujak' can be a strong condemnation implying criminal acts such as fraud or obstruction of business. Therefore, using it without basis or casually overusing it can lead to defamation or legal issues, and cause unnecessary misunderstandings or conflicts.

Joo-jak (pronounced like "joo" in "juice" followed by "jak" in "jack," with emphasis on the first syllable).