The Hongdae guy is an internet meme referring to South Korean men who approach, bother, and harass tourist women in the Hongdae neighborhood of Seoul. While popularized as a meme in 2025, The Korea Herald reported that "Many foreigners here say they have encountered a version of him in real life" and that the archetype has existed in Hongdae, and other parts of Seoul, for years.[1]
History
The Hongdae guy meme first became popularized in 2025 by Sean Solo, a content creator who records staged, parody videos of himself, often dressed up in a black leather jacket, as he approaches foreign women and asks them "Are you open-minded?" and "Do you live alone?"[2] However, many publications have reported that the archetype of the Hongdae guy has existed in South Korean nightlife for many years.[1][3]
In November 2025, The Korea Herald wrote a piece examining the Hongdae guy phenomenon, asking many foreigners if the meme matched the reality of being a foreign woman in South Korean nightlife. Some laughed and shared their experiences encountering them, while others discussed a pattern of sketchy, unsafe behavior from them, such as an incident where a Taiwanese YouTuber was attacked by "a group of men she said fit the 'Hongdae guy' stereotype."[1]
Similarly, The Chosun Daily wrote that Hongdae guys, as well as guys in other areas like Itaewon, were creating "unpleasant experiences" for foreign women and could potentially "become a toxin that tarnishes Korea’s image."[4] Joanna Elfving-Hwang, in The Conversation, wrote that "While Hongdae guys are by no means representative of all Korean men... the fact these men exist, and have become a recognisable part of Hongdae’s nightlife, speaks to serious broader issues of misogyny and gendered thinking."[3]
References
- ^ a b c Seung-hyun, Song (2025-11-26). "'Are you 'open mindeu'?': When the Hongdae guy meme stops being funny". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
- ^ "The "Hongdae Boy": 5 signs he's a red flag right off the bat". Her World Singapore. 2025-05-14. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
- ^ a b Elfving-Hwang, Joanna (2025-05-15). "Viral 'Hongdae boy' videos expose the fringe group of South Korean men trying to sleep with foreign women". The Conversation. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
- ^ "Hongdae Guys Tarnishing K-Culture Image". The Chosun Daily (in Korean). 2025-10-08. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
