관상드립

'Gwansang Deurip' began gaining popularity online with the success of the movie 'The Face Reader' (Gwansang), released in 2013. As the movie popularized the theme of physiognomy, interest in judging personality or destiny based on appearance grew, and the meme spread as a way to satirize or lightly use this concept. It was particularly actively used in online communities starting in the 21st century.

The core of 'Gwansang Deurip' is summarized by the phrase "Physiognomy is science." This is a metaphorical expression of the physiognomic claim that a person's appearance reflects their personality, behavior, and even destiny. It is mainly used when someone performs a certain action (especially a negative one), and their appearance is judged to match that action or personality. Sometimes it's used to criticize or mock criminals with harsh appearances or people who cause social controversy, and conversely, it can also be used to praise the positive aspects of someone with a good impression. However, most of the time, it's used as an element of satire or humor for specific situations, rather than genuinely believing in physiognomy.

Gwan-sahng Deu-rip

Widely used among the younger generation, from late teens to 30s, who are active in online communities and social media. It is not limited to a specific gender; it can be found among both men and women.

• When a public figure causes social controversy, people might comment, looking at their appearance, "Indeed, physiognomy is science."
• When a villain character in a drama or movie has a very strong and malicious appearance, people might say, "I knew it from the start with that face, physiognomy is science."
• When a friend is unusually well-dressed compared to usual, it might be used light-heartedly as a joke, like "Your face looks good today, did something good happen?"
• There are also cases where, in situations where first impressions are important, such as job interviews or blind dates, people evaluate the other person's impression and say, "Their face looks good, so it seems things will go well."

'Gwansang Deurip' involves judging people based on their appearance, which carries the serious problem of potentially fostering prejudice and discrimination. Especially when used in a negative context, it can lead to belittling someone's appearance, which can result in human rights violations or promote lookism. Even if consumed as humor online, it's crucial to always be aware that if taken seriously, it carries the risk of leading to eugenic thinking, and therefore, caution should be exercised in its use.