Local Media Sometimes Call Her "Korea's Goddess"
Korean Cheerleader Who Chose to Go to Taiwan, Making a Big Impact Locally
Lee Joo-eun (20), a Kia Tigers cheerleader who gained attention both domestically and internationally for her so-called 'Ppikki Ppikki Dance,' has ended her contract with her agency. Taiwan is now eagerly trying to recruit Lee Joo-eun.
Multiple Taiwanese media outlets, including TVBS and FTV News, recently gave significant coverage to Lee Joo-eun's contract termination. They referred to her as the 'Goddess of Korea' and reported that she is currently considering various options for her future activities after the contract ended. They also mentioned that Taiwanese fans are supporting Lee Joo-eun's potential move to Taiwan. TVBS reported, "Many Taiwanese fans are hoping Lee Joo-eun will come to Taiwan. She is taking a break and reviewing whether to pursue activities domestically or overseas." FTV News stated, "It is known that she decided to temporarily leave the stage to take a break and focus on her studies."
In September, there were also reports that Lee Joo-eun received love calls from Taiwan. Taiwanese media ETtoday said at the time, "Lee Joo-eun may come to Taiwan next year to build her career," adding, "She is receiving tremendous attention from Taiwanese baseball fans."
The recent increase in Korean cheerleaders transferring to Taiwan also raises expectations for Lee Joo-eun's move to Taiwan. Currently, Korean cheerleaders are active in five out of the six Taiwanese baseball teams. Korean cheerleaders who have gone to Taiwan are engaging in various activities such as debuting as singers or appearing on variety shows. In particular, Lee Da-hye, who transferred to the Taiwanese baseball team Rakuten Monkeys in March last year, has filmed 12 commercials including Coca-Cola and achieved the number one spot as a popular local YouTube creator.
The 'Ppikki Ppikki Dance' is a so-called 'Strikeout Song' introduced by Kia Tigers cheerleaders in domestic professional baseball since 2022. It is a dance performed by cheerleaders when a Kia Tigers pitcher strikes out an opposing batter. The dance features a movement where they raise their thumbs and shake their arms up and down in rhythm with the drum beat and music.
Especially, Lee Joo-eun became a hot topic when she immediately stood up and danced as the 'Ppikki Ppikki' song played while she was touching up her makeup. This quickly spread in the form of a challenge. The American daily The New York Times (NYT) also highlighted Lee Joo-eun's popularity in an article titled "Who Are These Korean Cheerleaders Taking Over TikTok?" stating that she "has captivated fans worldwide."
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