On June 18, RESCENE appeared on the special stage of Mnet’s music program M Countdown, performing “LOVE ATTACK”, the title track of their first mini-album SCENEDROME, originally released in August 2024.
The song’s return to music broadcast nearly two years after its release was largely driven by the power of the group’s content. Recently, member Woni’s personal YouTube channel, Hello, I’m Woni, uploaded a video of Woni, who is from Geoje in South Gyeongsang Province, and Japanese member Minami visiting the city together.
In the video, the two members tried to experience the lifestyle of a “gyaru”, a Japanese fashion subculture known for its bold makeup and flashy style. Following Minami’s advice, Woni transformed into a full gyaru look, complete with makeup and outfit. Concerned about the dramatic change, Woni jokingly asked if it might be “too much,” leading to playful banter between the two.
An unexpected comical moment occurred during their conversation. Woni jokingly said to Minami, “If you go to Geoje looking like this, the citizens of Geoje will scold you.” Laughing, Minami suddenly shouted, “Geoje Yaho!”
The casual and cheerful phrase immediately resonated with Gen Z audiences. It was quickly edited into short-form content and spread across social media, becoming a new meme. The clip quickly gained popularity online and surpassed 2.84 million cumulative views, proving its explosive popularity.
The viral attention naturally led people to discover RESCENE. As interest in the group grew, listeners began to revisit “LOVE ATTACK”, which steadily gained momentum through word of mouth. The song eventually rose to number 5 on Melon’s TOP100 chart, one of South Korea’s most competitive music charts.
For a smaller agency group competing with large entertainment companies, the result was widely praised as a rare success story driven solely by content and audience interest rather than large-scale promotional campaigns.
The impact of “Geoje Yaho!” it didn’t stop at the music charts. Riding the wave of the meme’s popularity, RESCENE was also appointed as a promotional ambassador for Geoje City. What started as a lighthearted viral moment evolved into an extraordinary chain reaction, leading to chart success, renewed public recognition and even the role of official ambassador.
With a single meme creating such significant momentum, RESCENE has become a standout example of how creativity and organic online buzz can help smaller groups defy industry expectations and gain mainstream attention.
Sources: Daum
