Reports have emerged that Taiwan is sending love calls to KIA Tigers cheerleader Lee Joo-eun, who gained worldwide attention for her so-called 'Ppikki Ppikki Dance.'
Taiwanese media outlet ETtoday reported on the 12th that "Lee Joo-eun may come to Taiwan next year to build her career," adding that "Taiwanese baseball fans are showing tremendous interest." Six KIA Tigers cheerleaders, including Lee Joo-eun, were invited by the Taiwanese baseball team Fubon Tigers on July 27 to perform the original 'Ppikki Ppikki Dance' locally. It was reported that the cheers from fans and the media frenzy at the pre-game event were on par with those for celebrities.
The media stated that while Taiwanese fans support Lee Joo-eun’s transfer, they are also pointing out the hierarchical culture, low pay, and high labor intensity faced by Korean cheerleaders. Taiwanese fans reportedly responded with comments such as "You can be happier if you come to Taiwan" and "Improve the treatment before thinking about losing them to Taiwan."
According to the report, Korean cheerleaders are already active in five out of the six teams in Taiwan’s professional baseball league. In fact, it is known that as many as 10 Korean cheerleaders have transferred to Taiwan in the past year. Given this situation, domestic fans are expressing dissatisfaction, saying Taiwan is luring Korean cheerleaders away with money.
Earlier last month, the American daily The New York Times (NYT) highlighted Korean baseball cheerleaders and the 'Ppikki Ppikki Dance,' which became a sensation on social media platforms (SNS) for its addictive dance moves. The 'Ppikki Ppikki Dance' is a so-called 'Strikeout Song' performed by KIA Tigers cheerleaders since 2022. When a KIA Tigers pitcher strikes out an opposing batter, the cheerleaders stand up and perform this dance. Created to tease the opposing team and their fans who got struck out, the dance is famous for its addictive moves involving thumb gestures and body shaking.
The dance gained significant attention after a video of KIA Tigers cheerleader Lee Joo-eun casually standing up and dancing after a pitcher struck out a batter while she was touching up her makeup at the stadium went viral online. On TikTok and other SNS platforms, famous overseas influencers have even parodied this scene.
In an article titled "Who Are These Korean Cheerleaders Taking Over TikTok?" the NYT explained that "the restrained (low-key) moves of Korean cheerleaders have captivated fans worldwide and sparked online buzz."
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