RESCENE member Woni has found herself at the center of an online linguistic debate after using the Gyeongsang dialect expression “museopno” (무섭노, “That’s scary”) in a YouTube video.
The controversy has reignited long-running discussions in South Korea over whether certain expressions ending in “-no (노)” should be viewed as legitimate regional dialect or as language associated with Ilbe (Ilgan Best), a controversial online community known for its use of offensive and politically charged slang.
The discussion stems from a recent video uploaded to Woni’s YouTube channel, “Hello, I’m Woni. Nice to Meet You.”
During the episode, Woni visited fellow RESCENE member Minami’s family home in Japan. While filming, a producer remarked, “Museopno” (“That’s scary.”) Woni responded in the same dialect: “Museopno. Even the lighting is scary.” The exchange quickly spread online after Kim Hyun-ji, an MBC Gyeongnam producer and director of the documentary Adult Kim Jang-ha, criticized the wording on social media.
In a post published on July 1, Kim Hyun-ji wrote that she was saddened to hear the producer and idol casually exchanging expressions ending in “-no.” She argued that the phrase was not grammatically consistent with Gyeongsang dialect and instead reflected a style of expression popularized by Ilbe.
After receiving criticism from RESCENE fans, Kim Hyun-ji clarified that she was not accusing Woni or others of intentionally promoting Ilbe ideology. Instead, she explained that many linguists specializing in the Gyeongsang dialect have repeatedly pointed out what they view as grammatically incorrect uses of “-no,” yet younger speakers continue adopting the expression naturally.
Kim Hyun-ji added that the issue was not about labeling every user as an Ilbe supporter or policing regional dialect, but rather encouraging people to consider whether they wish to continue using expressions if they learn those expressions may have become associated with hate speech.
Many internet users pushed back against Kim Hyun-ji’s criticism, arguing that native Gyeongsang speakers should not be discouraged from using their own dialect because of how certain online communities have appropriated it. The debate also revived earlier academic discussions on the subject.
In a 2019 television interview, Professor Ahn Tae-hyung of Dong-A University explained that while “-no” commonly appears in interrogative forms in the southeastern dialect, it can also function in monologues, exclamations, or expressions of lament, meaning phrases such as “Museopno” are not necessarily grammatically incorrect.
Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk also joined the discussion on July 5 by posting a chart on social media comparing the use of “-no” among Busan speakers, Seoul speakers, and Ilbe users. According to Cho, his observation is that Ilbe users often mechanically attach “-no” to standard Korean sentences, rather than following the grammatical patterns of the Gyeongsang dialect. He further explained that in traditional Yeongnam dialect:
- “-na (나)” is generally used in yes-or-no questions.
- “-no (노)” is typically used when asking for an explanation or additional information.
The controversy has since evolved into a broader discussion about language, regional identity, and social responsibility. One side argues that regional dialects should not be stigmatized because extremist groups have appropriated certain expressions. Others contend that public figures and media personalities should remain aware of the social context surrounding language that some audiences may associate with discriminatory or hateful communities.
As of now, Woni and her agency have not publicly commented on the controversy, and the debate continues across Korean social media platforms.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스
You must be logged in to post a comment.