I Majored in Muk-Jji-Ppa During My College Years

The "I majored in Muk-Jji-Ppa during my college years" meme originates from the opera "Rita." Composed by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti, the one-act comic opera "Rita" tells the story of a violent and domineering wife, Rita, her reluctant husband Beppe, and her ex-husband Gasparo. In one scene, they play a game of Muk-Jji-Ppa to determine who will stay with Rita. The iconic line from this scene is "I majored in Muk-Jji-Ppa during my college years."

This meme started gaining traction in 2023 when a performance of "Rita" by the Cheonan Opera Company was uploaded online. The scene featuring actors Choi Jae-rim and Lee Kyung-soo received widespread attention, becoming a sensation on social media and YouTube Shorts. The algorithm helped it spread rapidly, and the combination of melodious piano accompaniment and humorous lyrics made it even more popular.

The meme stems from a comical situation where two men, unwilling to live with Rita, settle their fate through a Muk-Jji-Ppa match. The lyrics, such as "I majored in Muk-Jji-Ppa during my college years, I will defeat you and make you cry," became particularly memorable. This scene has been widely parodied and applied to various situations, further increasing its popularity.