How: The Maknae Meme Phenomenon
The meme centered around the aespa idol Ningning, dubbed “Ningning is the maknae,”has gained immense popularity across platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter). For those unfamiliar with this viral trend, here’s a comprehensive breakdown.
What Sparked the Viral Trend?
The meme’s origins trace back to late November 2023 when a TikTok user known as ludicrousdonut posted a reaction video. This video highlighted a moment during a live stream where Ningning, whose full name is Ning Yizhuo, ate cake before her fellow aespa members could begin their meal — a significant breach of etiquette in traditional Korean culture.
Understanding the Context
The term “maknae”translates to “youngest”in Korean. In many Korean cultural settings, the maknae is expected to defer dining until the older members have started eating as a sign of respect. The controversial clip showcased Ningning taking a bite of cake while her bandmates were still praying, leading to mixed reactions.
Going Viral: The TikTok Impact
On November 20, 2023, ludicrousdonut expressed disbelief in her video, stating, “In Korea, you can’t eat until the elders eat. Ningning is the maknae, which means she’s the youngest, and the fact that she ate first is crazy.”This reaction resonated, with the TikTok video surpassing 1 million views, triggering an avalanche of memes.
@ludicrousdonut I am MY, don’t come for me #aespa
The Meme’s Evolution
Although ludicrousdonut subsequently claimed her reaction was in jest, her video was a springboard for many parodic interpretations. Shortly after, on November 21, X user sieunistaken reposted the video with a humorous twist, stating, “Me after my first month of learning Korean on Duolingo,” which garnered over 14,000 likes and 531,000 views.
As the trend continued, content creator ceollis produced a fancam edit that turned the critique into something positive, reinterpreting “Ningning ate”as a slang expression for excelling at a task. Their post quickly accumulated over 635,000 views within just two days.
@ceollis Ningning is the maknae💜 THAT’S CRAZY #ningning
Current Trends and Ongoing Popularity
As the meme continued to evolve, TikTok users began adding captions to the original video to highlight their own humorous takes on Korean culture or language proficiency. Popular captions included phrases like, “Me after I sing a K-pop song and say one Korean word correctly,” or “Me after keeping my Duolingo Korean streak for 8 days.”
@aespamy4thgenleaders Ning Ning is the MAKNAE 💜 #aespa
This meme, like many others, reflects the dynamic experience of K-pop culture on social media, showcasing how a single moment can transform into a larger conversation. As the trend persists, users continue to engage with the content, offering their interpretations and humor.
For those interested in the latest social media phenomena and trends, the “Ningning is the maknae” meme is just one example of how digital culture evolves rapidly.
To learn more about this meme and its cultural implications, check out the full story here.
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