CORTIS / Captured from KBS 2TV
For many artists, a tongue-tied mistake in the recording booth might end up on the cutting room floor.
For rising Korean group CORTIS, it became part of the brand.
The five-member act recently opened up about the unconventional lyrics and internet memes that have helped fuel its growing popularity, revealing that some of its most talked-about phrases were born from spontaneous freestyle sessions rather than careful planning.
CORTIS members Martin, Seonghyeon, Keonho, James and Juhoon appeared on KBS2 music talk show ‘The Seasons: Sung Si-kyung’s Music Companion’ on Thursday, where they discussed their rapidly growing international fanbase and viral online presence.
Host Sung Si-kyung highlighted the group’s global momentum, noting that its debut album surpassed 100 million views in just 34 days, while its latest release reached the same milestone in only 15 days.
Asked how it felt to see such numbers, the members admitted the achievement still feels somewhat unreal.
“The numbers are so large that they don’t fully sink in,” the group said. “It’s very moving.”
CORTIS / Captured from KBS 2TV
The conversation also turned to “Youngkeukeu,” a meme closely associated with the group.
Seonghyeon explained that the phrase originated from the group’s self-described identity as a “Young Creator Crew.”
“When we debuted, we thought we needed our own slogan,” he said. “We became attached to the phrase ‘Young Creator Crew’ and even made a song about it. Then it turned into a meme.”
CORTIS has also attracted attention for lyrics that intentionally break from conventional Korean expressions.
One frequently discussed example is “utgeobeoryeoseo,” a deliberately altered version of the standard Korean phrase “utgyeobeoryeoseo,” which roughly means “because it was so funny.”
When Sung pointed out what appeared to be a mistake, the members quickly corrected him.
“No, ‘utgeobeoryeoseo’ is correct,” they said.
The group explained that many of their songs are created through freestyle recording sessions rather than strictly written lyrics.
“Sometimes we write the lyrics first, but often we freestyle,” the members said. “While rapping nonstop, our tongues got twisted and ‘utgeobeoryeoseo’ came out. It had a rough, raw charm, so we decided to keep it.”
The same freewheeling approach has produced other unusual phrases, including “yoreuleihi,” which have become recognizable among fans.
Sung praised the group’s artistic identity, saying its unconventional approach extends beyond lyrics to its overall image and styling.
“From the group name to the outfits, everything feels consistent,” he said. “If you enjoy breaking what is considered fixed or standard, then you’re doing what artists should do — pursuing what you genuinely like.”
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.