The term 'Ulzzang', literally translating to 'best face' in Korean, originated in the late 1990s as a South Korean subculture focused on physical attractiveness and style. It became a global internet phenomenon through early social networking sites like Cyworld and Haduri, where teenagers would upload carefully posed, heavily edited photos featuring large eyes and fair skin. As a meme, the Ulzzang aesthetic represents the 'main character' energy of early internet celebrity culture. It is frequently used to parody the intense focus on appearance or to celebrate a specific, nostalgic visual style that paved the way for modern K-pop visual standards and influencer trends.