K-pop isn’t just about music anymore.
Sometimes, a single funny moment can grow into a nationwide trend—and even become part of a city’s branding.
That’s exactly what happened with RESCENE’s “Geoje~ Yaho!”
🌊 Where Did “Geoje~ Yaho!” Come From?
The meme began during one of RESCENE’s self produced videos.
While chatting with fellow member Woni, who is from Geoje, Japanese member Minami greeted her with an energetic “Geoje~ Yaho!”
The phrase was inspired by the Japanese greeting “Yahho (やっほー),” but Minami’s cheerful delivery, unique pronunciation, and playful gesture instantly caught fans’ attention.
It wasn’t planned—it was simply a spontaneous moment that fans loved.
📱 How Did It Go Viral?
Soon after the clip was shared, fans started recreating the greeting across TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
The simple format made it easy for anyone to join in.
Before long, countless parody videos using the “○○ Yaho!” format began appearing online, helping the meme spread far beyond RESCENE’s fandom.
For many people, “Geoje~ Yaho!” became their very first introduction to RESCENE.
💙 More Than Just a Meme
The viral trend didn’t just boost the group’s online popularity.
It also brought renewed attention to RESCENE’s music, performances, and variety content, introducing the group to audiences who may not have discovered them otherwise.
What started as a fun inside joke quickly became one of RESCENE’s signature moments.
🏝️ When a Meme Became City Branding
Perhaps the most remarkable part of the story is what happened next.
Recognizing the popularity of “Geoje~ Yaho!”, Geoje City embraced the meme as part of its tourism promotion.
RESCENE was later appointed as a promotional ambassador for the city, turning a viral online moment into a real world marketing campaign.
It’s a great example of how K-pop culture can influence not only fandoms but also tourism, local branding, and public campaigns.
💙 Have you seen the original “Geoje~ Yaho!” clip? Or have you caught yourself saying it too?
