오히려 좋아

"Ohiryeo Joa" is pronounced roughly as "Oh-hee-ryeo Joh-ah" by English speakers.

The phrase "Ohiryeo Joa" began in the mid-2010s on AfreecaTV StarCraft broadcasts. It gradually spread through Lineage broadcasts before 2018 and KakaoTV's League of Legends broadcasts. In early 2018, a variation, "Muhiryeo Joa," was actively used on KakaoTV. When these broadcasters moved to Twitch, the meme spread there and was further popularized by influential streamers like Chimchakman. It gained widespread recognition in 2019 when commentator Cltem used it during the official LoL World Championship broadcast. In 2024, it continues to be used consistently, often linked with positive thinking memes like "Wonyoung-jeok Sago" (Wonyoung's mindset).

"Ohiryeo Joa" combines "오히려" (ohiryeo), meaning "rather," "on the contrary," or "unexpectedly," with "좋아" (joa), meaning "good" or "like." It originally referred to finding positive aspects in a negative situation or choosing to accept it positively. As it became a meme, its meaning expanded. For many, it signifies turning adversity into a blessing or a blessing in disguise. It is also frequently used humorously or cynically in genuinely bad situations, where one pretends the situation is good for comedic effect.

This meme initially gained traction among internet broadcast viewers, particularly male audiences in their late teens to 30s who enjoyed game broadcasts. However, with the influence of major streamers like Chimchakman and its popularization through the 2019 LoL World Championship commentary, it is now widely used by both men and women across general online environments, including internet communities and social media.

• When in a disadvantageous situation during a game: "Ah, we're screwed... No, rather, it's good!"
• When an unexpected problem arises: "The plan went awry, but rather, it's good! It's a chance to try something new."
• Cltem during the 2019 LoL World Championship commentary: "Rather, it was good."

An early variation of the meme is "무히려 좋아" (Muhiryeo Joa). This playful alteration or intentional mispronunciation of "Ohiryeo Joa" was actively used on KakaoTV in early 2018.