The surprise stars of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, aren’t the elite competitors in the games, but the phallic statues outside. These buff men with unmistakably penis-like heads, officially called “Bullet Men,” have become a huge meme in Japan.
Japanese memers call them “#モルゲッソヨ,” pronounced “morugessoyo.” It means “I have no idea” in Korean.
The three statues have been in place at the Alpensia Ski Jumping Center since 2009, BuzzFeed reported. They supposedly represent “the desire for a cool body,” but the Japanese internet finds them more hilarious than cool. Funny Photoshops, videos, and fanart are everywhere.
On legendary Japanese message board 2ch, ASCII-art versions are especially popular:
また新しいAAできてた #モルゲッソヨ pic.twitter.com/cdsUWPst39
— 禍鬼ライ (@Igjade) February 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/clockwork_peach/status/961636622465826818
The memes have begun for the #Olympics, I love it. #モルゲッソヨ pic.twitter.com/NRvTsCwPd1
— Reverend Tack Angel ✝️👾✏️⚪️💎 (@tackangel) February 9, 2018
And on Twitter, various parody images are going wild. Check out the Silver Surfer version:
https://twitter.com/wakuteka_the1st/status/961759962912325632
The cycling version:
有名な元ネタからのトレスでやっつけだけど流行りの一発ネタ#モルゲッソヨ pic.twitter.com/nHB2udCGE0
— nYolo📛五冠 (@nYolo7900) February 9, 2018
The cute mascot version:
平昌オリンピックの日本代表を、ブータ、太っちょカワウソ、太っちょペンギンの三匹が応援するようです。
頑張れ日本！https://t.co/4etpme5yvv…#平昌オリンピック #モルゲッソヨ#絵描きさんと繋がりたい#RTした人全員フォローする pic.twitter.com/5GPOLcXlY8
— まさひさ工房@LINEスタンプ販売中 (@masahisakoubou) February 9, 2018
There are several jokes about Diglett, a character from Pokémon:
へぇーディグダの地面の下の正体が漸く判明したのか笑ꉂꉂ😆
#モルゲッソヨ pic.twitter.com/6ZqTPea3Zd— 紫電改@ロアナプラの住人 (@bananaoaki1) February 9, 2018
ディグダさん…？？ #モルゲッソヨ pic.twitter.com/qkKKRCeTMm
— みくろん (@93_wednesday) February 9, 2018
And many takes on the crazy duo of Pipimi and Popuko from the meme anime Pop Team Epic.
#モルゲッソヨ #ポプテピピック pic.twitter.com/bsj0ZIGdiH
— 生卵 | 𝚛𝚊𝚠𝚎𝚐𝚐🥚 𝚁𝚢𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚑𝚒 𝙺𝚊𝚝𝚘 (@rawegg) February 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/saida_kazuaki/status/962254696910962690
When Japanese memers find something that resonates, they really go all out. The Bullet Men meme is truly a multimedia experience, involving everything from cosplay to action figures to latte art to… interpretive dance?
「あなたは何のフレンズなの？」
「モ、モルゲッソヨ…（分かりません）」#けものフレンズ #モルゲッソヨ pic.twitter.com/0HeAXld82m— かちゅぼん@犬を撫でたい (@kachubon) February 10, 2018
ガンダム・モルゲッソヨ作りました#モルゲッソヨ pic.twitter.com/v3xGJWAcfd
— 醤油皿@レベル94 (@syouyuzara) February 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/george_10g/status/961778657374101504
メガテンで見た#モルゲッソヨ pic.twitter.com/Gh7uYj1jvt
— 黒いファラオ (@dice468101220) February 9, 2018
この動画を見てからどうしてもこの曲が浮かんでしまって離れない………… #モルゲッソヨ pic.twitter.com/Wn9PLy4HXk
— galast/joker (@jo_o_oker) February 9, 2018
Sure, it’s a giant dick joke, but it’s been elevated and made magical through craftsmanship and a playful sense of humor. The Olympics have only just started, but the Bullet Men are the early frontrunners for the best meme out of Pyeongchang.