KIA Tigers cheerleader Lee Ju-eun (Photo: a screenshot from Instagram)
SEOUL, Nov. 8 (Korea Bizwire) – After news broke of KIA Tigers cheerleader Lee Ju-eun’s contract termination with her agency, Taiwanese media outlets, including TVBS, reported on November 5 that she is considering various career options, with strong interest emerging from Taiwan’s baseball community.
Lee gained international fame for her casual yet captivating performance of the ‘Pikki Pikki’ dance, which went viral when she spontaneously rose from touching up her makeup to perform the routine when the song played.
Taiwan, which has a robust cheerleading culture comparable to South Korea’s, currently features Korean cheerleaders in five of its six professional baseball teams. Taiwanese fans have been particularly supportive of the possibility of Lee joining their league.
Earlier in September, Taiwan’s ETtoday reported that Lee might consider moving to Taiwan in the coming year to further her career.
Taiwanese media outlets have highlighted fans’ criticisms of Korean cheerleading culture, citing hierarchical structures, low compensation, and intense work demands. Fans have suggested that Taiwan could offer better working conditions for cheerleaders like Lee.
The ‘Pikki Pikki’ dance, which gained prominence in August when The New York Times published an article titled “Who Are The Korean Cheerleaders Flooding TikTok?”, has become a global social media phenomenon.
The dance, performed when KIA Tigers pitchers strike out opposing batters, features a simple routine of raised thumbs and body movements synchronized to drum beats and DJ scratches.
Lee’s viral moment, which captured her seamlessly transitioning from applying makeup to performing the dance when the song played, has garnered nearly 900 million views on platforms like TikTok. The Times noted how these “ultra-chill” dance moves have dominated social media algorithms and inspired countless parodies worldwide.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
