IVE Member’s Awkward Expressions Cause ‘Cringe’ Reactions Among K-Netz

This member of IVE has ignited discussions online for being labeled as “cringe”by Korean netizens.

THIS IVE Member Makes K-Netz 'Cringe' Due to Her Image: 'Her Expressions Are Awkward' — (Photo : IVE/Instagram)

In an online discussion forum, Nate Pann, IVE’s Gaeul caught the attention of netizens after someone posted an article entitled, “Why is Gaeul so cringe?”This post has surpassed 50,000 views.

The article appears to be a tongue-in-cheek compliment to the idol, praising her beauty and dancing skills while suggesting she has a “cringe”aura.

@ive.official
Kim Ga-eul 🌟 Everywhere you walk is a runway 🎬 IVE アイヴ GAEUL ガウル

♬ I Sit Gabu! – PXLWYSE

The original poster provided a screenshot showing Gaeul’s expression during the recent viral TikTok challenge initiated by dance creator Dayana. Since Gaeul shared it last month, the post has garnered 1.7 million likes and 11.3 million views.

While her fans admired her participation, commenters on Pann agreed that Gaeul’s expressions and somewhat awkward dancing contribute to her “cringe”image.

Previously, she won fans over and earned the title “Gaeul sunbae (senior),”but even that designation faced criticism for giving off a vibe that seemed to push her sexy and fatal concept.

A post shared by Instagram

Here are some comments from netizens:

“I think the title ‘Gaeul sunbae’ contributed to her awkward vibe. The moment I heard people calling her that, I cringed so hard.”

“I also find it incredibly cringe that Gaeul’s image is depicted as sexy + fatale + sunbae. I completely agree that Gaeul is beautiful, but she doesn’t embody that decadent sexy type of beauty.”

“Perhaps it’s due to her being referred to as the ‘child president,’ but she appears to have a lot of younger fans who perceive her as sexy when she’s slim with a squinty expression. I really hope Gaeul doesn’t get trapped in that concept.”

“Her dance moves are fine, but what stands out is her cheesy and awkward expressions. She really tries to exude charisma, but lacking volume makes it feel less sexy. Because of her previous stiff image, I just can’t get past that. I hope she focuses on improving her singing instead.”

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