Romgokopnup

Origin

Romgok-opnup is the four-syllable Korean word pokpung-nunmul ("storm of tears") written as if the paper had been rotated 180 degrees. Turn 폭풍눈물 upside down and each syllable looks like 롬곡옾눞. It is slang for being so sad that tears pour out like a storm.

This kind of script play is called yamin jeongeum. According to Korean Wikipedia, yamin jeongeum is an internet meme that rewrites words by swapping Hangul letters for similar-looking ones, and it developed into its current form on DC Inside's domestic baseball gallery; the name combines that gallery's nickname, "Yagal," with Hunminjeongeum, the original name of the Korean alphabet. Its techniques include swapping in look-alike letters, rotating syllables 180 or 90 degrees and compressing several syllables into one, and romgok-opnup is cited as the best-known rotation example. Seoul Economic Daily's "Neologism Dictionary" likewise lists rotating syllables 180 degrees alongside look-alike substitution as yamin jeongeum techniques.

Spread

Romgok-opnup often appeared in the press as a word illustrating communication gaps between generations, and even within one. On March 23, 2018, Hankook Ilbo ran a story titled "Romgok-opnup? Neologisms that don't even work among teens," describing a 26-year-old worker at a children's theme park who couldn't understand children using the word. The article reported that more than 60% of youth conversation consists of neologisms, making it hard to follow for anyone even slightly older, and quoted Kyung Hee University professor Goh Kang-seop's analysis that fluency in slang varies individually depending on the media one frequently encounters rather than by generation.

E-Daily also introduced the word as yamin jeongeum, pokpung-nunmul written upside down, in a piece titled "Do you know 'romgok-opnup'? Cryptic neologisms that block communication between generations." A 32-year-old office worker in the article said overhearing teenagers made him suddenly feel behind the times, and a 16-year-old student admitted to sometimes pretending to understand unfamiliar slang so as not to be left out. Yamin jeongeum later spread far enough to be used in corporate TV ads, but it continues to draw both criticism for damaging Hangul and hindering communication and defense as a creative expansion of how Hangul can be used.

Usage

• After a sad movie or moving scene: "Watched a movie today, romgok-opnup"
• A short "total romgok-opnup" about something upsetting, like your team losing or an exam result
• Sometimes shortened to just romgok

Sources

• Seoul Economic Daily, "[Neologism Dictionary] Yamin jeongeum" — the definition of yamin jeongeum and its baseball gallery origin, look-alike substitution, 180-degree rotation and compression techniques, use in corporate ads, criticism and defense
• Hankook Ilbo, "Romgok-opnup? Neologisms that don't even work among teens" (March 23, 2018) — the meaning as upside-down pokpung-nunmul, the 26-year-old theme park worker, over 60% of youth conversation being slang, Professor Goh Kang-seop's analysis
• E-Daily, "Do you know 'romgok-opnup'? Cryptic neologisms that block communication between generations" (2018) — explanation of yamin jeongeum, the 32-year-old office worker and 16-year-old student, expert views on the spread of slang
• Korean Wikipedia, "Yamin jeongeum" — its origin and name from DC Inside's domestic baseball gallery, substitution, rotation and compression types, the romgok-opnup example