Pann Post Criticizing “Ugly Male Idols” Sparks Controversy, NCT WISH’s Jaehee Dragged into Debate

A controversial post titled “I Seriously Hate Ugly Male Idols” has gone viral on the Korean forum Pann, reigniting intense debate over the evolving standards of visuals and talent in the K-pop industry. The post, which has amassed thousands of views and comments, harshly criticized what the author described as the declining quality of male idol visuals, specifically calling out NCT WISH member Jaehee.

Fans always say idols make it more on visuals than skills, but how are these guys making money when they’re neither good-looking nor talented? It’s infuriating. And the fans just blindly call them ‘handsome’ and hype them up, so they start believing it, posting selfies and acting like they’re attractive. It’s honestly rage-inducing.

The OP further criticized what they saw as a decline in idol standards, saying,

They’re short, like 173, 174 cm, and have no presence. Even if one has decent height or body proportions, they still look like average people, or worse. There are guys at my school who look 100 times better than them.

The term ‘idol’ means someone you look up to, someone who should be on another level in terms of visuals, physique, and skills. But nowadays, it feels like agencies debut anyone with just one decent trait. That’s why male idols are flopping lately.

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Honestly, if one of the Big 4 agencies debuted a group where every member was over 180cm, handsome, and talented, and gave them a song like Wolf, they’d instantly dominate 5th-gen male idols.

Most netizens pushed back, criticizing the post for being overly harsh, appearance-focused, and needlessly dragging specific idols like Jaehee into the crossfire.

Comments on Pann:

1. OP, you seriously seem to have a personality issue. Did you look in the mirror before posting this? Don’t you feel anything when you see yourself? People like you sit on Pann all day, obsessed with appearances, writing hate posts about idols for no reason and being satisfied with your life stuck at home. Tsk tsk. At least those idols made it through insane competition and are working hard at their jobs.
2. So you admit it’s okay for men to hate on female idols for being unattractive???
3. Why are you so angry…
4. There has NEVER been a boy group where all members are over 180cm, all handsome, and all highly skilled. Same goes for girl groups, LOL. Plus, the really handsome guys usually don’t want to be idols, can’t survive the training, or get caught up in scandals. That’s why the ones who actually debut aren’t always what you imagine.
5. LOL then just stan only pretty girl idols. Whether someone’s attractive or not, there’s demand for all types, that’s why they can make a living. What are you even on about, lol.

The post has sparked wider discussion about whether current idol selection prioritizes versatility and individuality, or if the public still expects idols to be “perfect” across all categories. As NCT WISH is still in the early stages of its debut, fans have rallied in defense of Jaehee, calling the post unnecessarily toxic and reflective of an unrealistic idol ideal.