Is 'Museobno' Ilbe-Style Language?...Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Director Apologizes to Risene's One

"I Lacked Understanding of Young People's Language"
"Concerned That One of Risene May Have Been Hurt"

Attorney Sujin Jo, who serves as a director of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, has issued an official apology after criticizing Risene member One's use of the phrase "Museobno" as being reminiscent of Ilbe-style language.

'Museobno' Criticism by Sujin Jo..."I Will Revise My Statement"

Attorney Sujin Jo. YouTube Channel Jang Yoonseon's Convenience Store Coverage

On July 9, Attorney Jo stated on her social networking service (SNS), "I would like to address my remarks regarding Risene's One," adding, "I have received many inquiries and have learned new information, so I intend to revise my position."

Previously, on July 7, Attorney Jo appeared on the YouTube channel "Jang Yunsun's Convenience Store Coverage" and said about the phrase "Museobno," "I am also from Gyeongsang Province, and I believe it does resemble Ilbe-style language." At the time, she said, "A characteristic of Ilbe culture is that they embed certain codes, knowingly or unknowingly, and later laugh about it among themselves," adding, "That code, horrifically, began with ridiculing and mocking the death of Roh Moo-hyun."

As controversy grew over these comments, Attorney Jo clarified, "The point of my remarks was that the structural issue of young people using the Ilbe-style sentence ending 'no' should not be attributed to individuals, nor should it be politically exploited." She further explained, "The use of the ending 'no' in an ungrammatical way, which has been used to insult and mock the late President Roh Moo-hyun, has been left unchecked for over ten years within many online communities, not just Ilbe, and has now been absorbed into the language and memes of the younger generation."

"I Lacked Understanding of Young People's Language...I Apologize"

Risene One. YouTube

Attorney Jo also stated, "I was born in Busan and attended elementary, middle, high school, and university in Daegu, living in Gyeongsang Province for 25 years. I have since moved to Seoul, but in all that time, I have never heard '~no' used in situations like this," adding, "That is why, after checking the original shorts video, I judged it to be Ilbe-style language."

She cited Professor Kim Deokho of the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Kyungpook National University as the reason for her change in stance. "I learned that omitting 'Why is it' in 'Wairi museobno' is not originally natural in terms of grammar, but the younger generation tends to omit it. After hearing that this was a misunderstanding due to generational differences in dialect usage, I understood," she explained.

She continued, "I believe I lacked understanding of the language of young people, who often omit words in online conversations," and added, "I am concerned that my comments may have hurt One, the artist from Risene, and I would like to offer my apology."

Meanwhile, this controversy began with a scene from One's YouTube channel on June 28, where she said "Museobno." The video showed One, who is from Geoje, Gyeongnam, visiting the family home of Japanese member Minami. As they moved into a dark room, the PD filming said "Museobno" first, and One replied, "Museobno. Even the lighting is scary."

Some have pointed out that the phrase is reminiscent of Ilbe-style language. Kim Hyunji, an MBC Gyeongnam PD who directed the documentary "Adult Kim Jangha," posted on her X (formerly Twitter) account on July 1, "I watched a well-received YouTube clip, but I was very upset to see a female idol and PD exchanging 'no no' so casually."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.