제네시스좌

Genesis-jwa

"Jeh-neh-sis-jwah" (pronounced roughly as "jeh-NEH-sis-JWAH"). The "Jeh" sounds like 'je' in 'jet', "neh" like 'ne' in 'net', "sis" like 'sis' in 'sister', and "jwah" like 'jwa' in 'dwarves' but with a 'j' sound.

The 'Genesis-jwa' meme first appeared and quickly gained popularity on August 8, 2022, when record-breaking torrential rain hit the Seoul metropolitan area. At the time, a photo of a man sitting on top of his submerged Genesis car, looking at his mobile phone, at the Seoi Elementary School intersection in Seocho-gu, Seoul, went viral through online communities and media outlets, becoming a major topic of discussion.

This meme originated from the image of a man calmly sitting on top of his car, looking at his mobile phone, amidst the desperate situation of his vehicle being submerged due to heavy rain. It symbolizes maintaining composure (or a state of detachment/enlightenment) even in a disaster, and is sometimes used to express resignation or philosophical acceptance of an absurd situation. The suffix '좌' (jwa) in Korean internet slang often denotes someone who is a master or an expert, or who displays an admirable level of composure in a difficult situation. At the time, the man was also referred to as 'Gangnam Station Mihawk' or 'Seocho-dong Sage'.

It was actively used primarily by young people, from late teens to their thirties, who frequent internet communities, and was well-known among both men and women.