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The 'Impostor' meme gained popularity alongside the game 'Among Us', released in 2018, which saw an explosive rise during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Famous game streamers playing the game helped it become widely known in Korea. The extended period of staying at home led many people to play Among Us, which was a major factor in the meme's spread.

'Impostor' originates from the English word 'Impostor' or 'Imposter', meaning 'fraud', 'deceiver', or 'trickster'. This meme primarily comes from the term used in InnerSloth's mafia-style game 'Among Us', referring to a player who hides among the crewmates, sabotages tasks, and eliminates other crewmates. In daily life, it is also used to refer to someone who secretly causes harm within a group or situation, or simply someone who is out of touch with the atmosphere, often phrased as "Are you the impostor?"

Im-pos-ter (/ɪmˈpɒstər/ or /ɪmˈpɑːstər/)

Mainly used by young people aged 10 to 30 who enjoy the game 'Among Us', especially among game streamers and their viewers. While the game's popularity surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching a wider range of ages, the primary consumer base for the meme itself is Gen Z and young Millennials.

• "I think there's an impostor on our team. They keep saying strange things."
• "You're just sitting there silently during the meeting, aren't you the impostor?"
• Within the game, a situation where an impostor can easily eliminate a crewmate is sometimes referred to as "kill-gak" (meaning "kill angle" or "opportunity to kill").
• Many memes have been created depicting situations where impostors try to avoid detection by suspecting other crewmates or claiming their innocence.

The 'Impostor' meme is primarily used within the context of the game 'Among Us', so its meaning might not be properly conveyed to those unfamiliar with the game. Since it carries the negative connotation of a 'fraud', using it to refer to actual people can cause misunderstandings, so caution is advised. Furthermore, excessive criticism or trolling during the process of identifying an impostor in the game can detract from the fun of the game.