PC Communication Modem Dial-up Sound
Original Korean title
PC통신 모뎀 접속음
The screeching dial-up modem connection sound that symbolizes 1990s Korean PC communication and early internet culture.
Originated around 1994Last updated: August 4, 2026
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The translation for this language is already current and reviewed.
What does it mean?
The distinctive dial-up modem connection sound, a screeching, crackling sequence often described as 'beep, static, hiss,' that played when connecting to 1990s PC communication services like Hitel and Nownuri remains a powerful nostalgic symbol for that generation of early internet users. It wasn't uncommon for the connection to drop if someone picked up the phone.
Where did it start?
The dial-up modem handshake tone heard through the phone line when connecting to PC communication services such as Hitel, Chollian, and Nownuri in the early-to-mid 1990s. The sound was produced during the handshake process used to exchange digital signals over a phone line, and users of the era often jokingly compared it to a toilet flushing or a scream, turning it into an early meme. It disappeared with the rollout of broadband internet, but sampled audio clips and nostalgic YouTube videos keep it alive as a cultural symbol for those who grew up in the 1980s-90s.
How is it used?
Can be recalled by imitating the sound when reminiscing about the PC communication era.
Ratings by context haven't been confirmed yet.
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PC Communication Modem Dial-up Sound: The screeching dial-up modem connection sound that symbolizes 1990s Korean PC communication and early internet culture.
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