Pepe the Frog, created by artist Matt Furie, started as an innocent character in a comic strip but quickly became a ubiquitous symbol in various online communities. The transformation of Pepe into a symbol of Kekism occurred when users noticed that “Kek” was phonetically similar to “lol” in Korean gaming culture, often written as “kekeke.”

This linguistic coincidence, combined with Pepe’s frog-like appearance, led to the fusion of Kek and Pepe. Pepe became the face of Kek, and the concept of “Kekistan,” a fictional country for meme enthusiasts, was born. This blending of ancient mythology and modern meme culture created a unique and enduring internet phenomenon.