수리남(드라마) 관련 유행어

Catchphrases related to the Netflix drama 'Suriname' heated up the Korean internet in the latter half of 2022, giving birth to various memes and popular expressions.

This meme quickly gained popularity immediately after the Netflix original series 'Suriname' was released on September 9, 2022. It achieved great success, ranking 3rd worldwide in Netflix's TV show category just five days after its release, and showed high topicality, ranking 2nd in Google's "Year in Search" trends in Korea for 2022.

Catchphrases related to 'Suriname' originated from parodies of memorable lines or scenes from the drama. Key catchphrases include:

• "The fermented skate of Suriname belongs to God." / "It's God's will, you son of a b*tch...": These are lines spoken by the drug lord Jeon Yo-hwan (played by Hwang Jung-min), who disguises himself as a pastor and uses religion hypocritically. Especially the line "belongs to God," combined with actor Hwang Jung-min's intense performance, is used satirically to express absolute ownership of something or to rationalize a specific situation for religious reasons.
• "Kang Pro, have you eaten?": This is a greeting from NIS agent Choi Chang-ho (played by Park Hae-soo), who is disguised as businessman Gu Sang-man, to Kang In-gu (played by Ha Jung-woo). This line served as a code to check for the presence of drug cartel members nearby, and also as a device to maintain Choi Chang-ho's unique speaking habit as part of his disguise. Its distinctive intonation and context provide humor, leading it to be parodied as a friendly yet significant greeting.
• Park Chan-ho Autographed Ball: An autographed baseball from player Park Chan-ho appears as an important prop in the drama. Jeon Yo-hwan gifts it to Kang In-gu, remarking, "Everything I have is fake, but only that baseball is real." This is interpreted as a symbol of truth or good luck and is sometimes used to represent finding something genuine in a world full of fakes or to refer to something cherished.
• Ha Jung-woo's Fermented Skate Mukbang: The scene where the protagonist Kang In-gu deliciously eats "hongeo samhap" (fermented skate with pork belly and kimchi) left a strong impression. It is often mentioned when describing someone eating a particular food very impressively or discussing unexpected food combinations.
• The Double Meaning of 'Suriname': The drama's title 'Suriname' refers to the South American country, but it also carries the simultaneous meaning of '수리하는 남자' (suri-haneun namja), meaning 'a man who repairs things,' referring to protagonist Kang In-gu who runs a car repair shop. This double meaning was also a topic of discussion.

The drama 'Suriname' was released globally via Netflix and gained significant popularity, achieving high viewership not only in Korea but also in various countries including the US, Europe, and South America. Therefore, catchphrases related to this drama were widely used by all generations, both men and women, who watched the series.

The drama 'Suriname' was inspired by real events, and its content and portrayal led to several controversies.

• Backlash from the Surinamese Government: The Surinamese government announced that it would consider legal action, citing the drama's portrayal of Suriname as a negative drug nation. Therefore, caution is advised when mentioning the country name 'Suriname'.
• Religious Sensitivity: Lines like Jeon Yo-hwan's "belongs to God" can be used in a context that satirizes or mocks religion, potentially causing offense to people with religious beliefs.
• Controversy over Disparaging Chinese People: The depiction of the Chinese gang leader Chen Jin and his group in the drama caused some Chinese viewers to express discomfort and engage in "review bombing." Caution should be exercised when using these references in contexts that might promote prejudice against specific ethnicities or nationalities.

The Korean name for the meme is '수리남(드라마) 관련 유행어'. The key term '수리남' (Suriname) is pronounced as "Soo-ri-nahm" (similar to 'Sue-ree-nahm'). The full phrase translates to 'Catchphrases related to the drama 'Suriname'.'