RESCENE's Minami Says Goodbye to Viral 'Yaho' Catchphrase

K-POP idol Minami of the group RESCENE said her viral Korean catchphrase has drawn teasing reactions from her friends back in Japan. She shared the story on the Sept. 16 episode of MBC's variety show "Radio Star."

The 981st episode aired as a "Nagoya-ho! Asian Games" special, with tennis player Lee Hyung-taik, chef Lee Hye-jung, judoka Cho Jun-ho, and Minami appearing as guests.

Minami has been nicknamed "the Heo Kyung-hwan of RESCENE," a nod to the Korean comedian known for signature catchphrases. She said she coined phrases like "Geoje Yaho" and "I guess I'll just dance para para," and that fans constantly ask her to perform them.

"They ask me to shout it whenever I'm on TV, so I probably do it at least 30 times a day," she said. "The related video has passed 13 million views."

She also thanked the artists who joined in. "Sunbaenims from BTS and several actors did it too, and G-Dragon sunbaenim struck the pose during the group photo at the end of his concert," she said.

The response in Japan has been very different. When host Kim Gu-ra asked whether she was "getting mock-attacked in Japan," Minami said her friends there have been reaching out nonstop.

"My friends in Japan keep messaging me," she said. "They said things like, 'You've been blowing up lately. You said you were going to audition in Japan and become a K-POP idol, so why are you suddenly doing gyaru?' and 'Have you lost your mind?'" She said she shot back, "I have to do at least this much to stand out."

The joke lands harder because Minami's real background is nothing like her stage persona. She trained in traditional calligraphy for eight years from elementary school and holds a master-level certification. She also attended an English-language kindergarten and grew up in a well-off household. Her agency's CEO reportedly traveled to her family home in Japan to personally recruit her.

Minami herself made the distinction clear when talking about her school years. "I had nothing to do with gyaru culture. It was very far from me," she said.

She credited her mother for helping her nail the character despite that gap. "My mother, born in 1973, didn't go full gyaru, but I heard she used to dress in that style and speak with a nasal tone with her friends," she said. "When I was preparing content, she gave me detailed tips directly, like, 'I think you need to bring your eyeliner down a bit more.'"

Even with the runaway popularity, Minami announced she is retiring the catchphrase after this appearance. "I've done it more than enough, and I thought I'd pour it all out here one last time," she said. "If someone asks me to do it, of course I will, but today feels like the last time I'll bring it up on my own." She closed the moment by shouting the "yaho" line one more time with the rest of the cast, signaling the end of the catchphrase for good.