“Pikki Pikki” Dance Cheerleader Lee Ju-eun May Leave Korea To Prepare For A New Beginning?
According to MyDaily’s report on November 4th, Lee Ju-eun has recently terminated her contract with Apex Communications. While it was previously reported that she was taking a break due to an injury in August, the media outlet revealed that her agency contract has since ended.
Lee Ju-eun has been the most prominent cheerleader in the KBO League this year. Her “Pikki Pikki” cheer dance sparked a viral challenge trend both domestically and internationally. The dance became so popular that even KIA Tigers players and Manager Lee Beom-ho performed it in front of fans.
However, speculation grew when Lee Ju-eun’s name was notably absent from the Korean Series cheerleading roster. While there were eight cheerleaders participating in KIA’s home games 1 and 2, six cheerleaders supporting the team during away games in Daegu, and ten cheerleaders were deployed for Game 5, Lee Ju-eun was not among them.
After KIA’s championship victory, while many cheerleaders shared their joy on social media, Lee Ju-eun only briefly posted the KIA championship symbol on her social account without further comment. Even this post, shared as a story, was deleted after 24 hours. This led fans to speculate about her departure from the agency, which has now been confirmed.
Consequently, it appears that Lee Ju-eun’s “Pikki Pikki” dance will no longer be seen on the KIA cheering platform. Currently on break, she is reportedly considering various options for her future activities. There are rumors suggesting she might minimize her domestic activities and focus on overseas opportunities. Fans speculate she might move to Taiwan, where Korean cheerleaders are particularly popular.
Born in 2004, Lee Ju-eun began her cheerleading career last year, working with the Goyang Sono Skygunners (KBL) and Bucheon Hana Bank (formerly Hana 1Q, WKBL) before joining the KIA Tigers this year. Her signature “Pikki Pikki” cheer, also known as the “Strike Out Song,” was introduced by KIA cheerleaders in 2022. The dance features cheerleaders raising their thumbs to drum beats and music when a KIA pitcher records a strikeout.
In August, The New York Times published an article titled “Who Are These Korean Cheerleaders Taking Over TikTok?” The article reported how the Korean baseball cheerleaders’ “Pikki Pikki” dance had gone viral on social media platforms like TikTok, garnering millions of views. The New York Times highlighted how a video of Lee Ju-eun casually fixing her makeup before smoothly transitioning into the “Pikki Pikki” dance after a pitcher’s strikeout became a social media sensation. The paper analyzed how this video exploded in popularity through social media algorithms.
The New York Times also noted that Korean cheerleaders’ “restrained movements” caught global attention, offering a different appeal from American football cheerleaders’ group performances. They explained, “The simple gesture of raising two thumbs is easily replicable, making it more captivating,” describing how such a simple movement could create a worldwide phenomenon.
As a result, the “Pikki Pikki” dance has become a symbol of Korean baseball’s unique cheering culture and passion, charming international fans. As the KBO League recorded its highest-ever attendance this year, interest in cheerleaders has also increased. In an interview with the New York Times, Dan Kurtz of MyKBO remarked, “Korean professional baseball is attractive to young audiences with its affordable ticket prices and freedom to bring in food,” adding that “Compared to Major League Baseball, Korean baseball games are like rock concerts.” He further noted, “The score doesn’t matter in Korean baseball games. Fans sing, cheer, and enjoy the experience itself.”
Source: Wikitree
