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Buzzwords come and go in Korea after a few years. But one has stood the test of time — “Leeds era,” which is read as “lijeu sijeol” in Korean.
The term, believed to have originated from online football communities around 2005, is used to refer to a period of one’s greatest success or popularity, similar to a heyday or a golden era. It is used in various contexts including the appearance of celebrities to the performance of athletes.
Since July this year, local cable channel JTBC has been airing a TV show with a name that roughly translates to “Leeds Era Once Again,” every Saturday morning. The show seeks to help people or groups to reach their potential and relive their prime years once again, according to the broadcaster.
When it is not making the occasional appearance in headlines for entertainment news stories, Leeds era is used in everyday conversations.
“You look exactly the same as your Leeds era,” is something you hear often when praising one’s appearance.
Take one YouTube clip as another example.
