꽁꽁 얼어붙은 한강 위로 고양이가 걸어다닙니다

Meme Name: 꽁꽁 얼어붙은 한강 위로 고양이가 걸어다닙니다

"Kkong-kkong Eoreobuteun Hangang Wiro Goyangiga Georeodanimnida" is pronounced roughly as "Kong-kong uh-ruh-boo-teun Hahng-gahng wee-roh goh-yahng-ee-gah guh-ruh-dah-neem-nee-dah." The phrase translates to "A cat walks on the completely frozen Han River."

This meme originated from an MBN News 7 cold wave report video on December 27, 2021. At the time, the scene of a cat walking on the completely frozen Han River and the reporter's commentary began to gain minor attention online. From 2022, it was re-discovered and used every winter on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok. It surged in popularity from early 2024, expanding significantly into parody and challenge content from early April, becoming globally viral.

"A cat walks on the completely frozen Han River" is a meme that originated from a scene of a cat walking on the frozen Han River at Ttukseom Han River Park and the reporter's commentary explaining it, during MBN News 7's 2021 report on a 'Subway Station Pipe Burst Accident Water Splash.' Originally, it was a serious news report covering the inconveniences and accidents caused by a cold wave. However, the rare sight of a cute and innocent cat in a rigid news segment, combined with the commentary that had an inexplicable rhythm, created a strange addictiveness, leading to its rebirth as an internet meme. This meme is also sometimes shortened to 'Kkong-nyang-i.' Notably, in August 2025, news broke that MBN video journalist Lee Dong-hak, who originally filmed the cat, adopted it and named it 'Kkong-kkong-i,' which touched many people.

This meme primarily spread through short-form platforms such as X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. It gained significant popularity among the younger generation, especially SNS users aged 10 to 30, and K-POP fandoms, as K-POP idols participated in the 'Kkong-nyang-i Challenge.' Due to the cute cat and the simple nature of the challenge, it is widely consumed across all age groups.