Is “ISAC” Cringe? Netizens Debate “Attention-Seeking” Behavior

Which side are you on?

In a recent post, netizens shared their thoughts on MBC’s Idol Star Athletic Championships (also known as ISAC).

2025 Idol Star Athletic Championships | MBC

ISAC aired for the first time in 2010 and has been a steady part of K-Pop ever since. However, fans are wondering if things have changed overtime.

BTS at ISAC 2015 | @bangtan.official/Facebook

As the program has aired for over a decade, the dynamic of the event has changed. Particularly, a netizen noted that idols try to stand out.

ISAC is kind of cringe. When they’re filming, since there are idols and fans around, they act way more over-the-top than usual when talking, and they deliberately try to stand out too. Seriously, what the hell.

— OP

| Nate Pann

Many idols strive to gain attention, such as this moment when an idol ran on stage to suddenly dance in front of the entire crowd.

송형준이 라잌제니 춰주는데요 pic.twitter.com/1otS3uqAsH

— 영원이..🧸 (@01S2f) August 24, 2025

Others are eager to interact with idols of other groups and even meet new friends.

gehlee had one mission at ISAC: to befriend Ella from MEOVV pic.twitter.com/WyCDPkwT52

— gehlee source (@gehleesource) August 25, 2025

Netizens shared their thoughts in the comments, each with their own opinion. Some felt it was natural to want to meet new people during the rare opportunity while others found the behavior “attention-seeking.”

• “It was kind of funny how ZB1’s Park Gunwook was showing off his interactions with girl group idols this time. It felt like he was the only one going around trying hard to act close with them…”
• “When he’s with his own group, his eyes look dead, but as soon as there are girl idols nearby, his energy shoots up and he starts acting conscious of them. Reminds me of my own idol, damn.”
• “Deliberately doing attention-seeking things… honestly, even if it were my own bias, I’d lose interest.”
• “Come on, think about it lol. When you spend years stuck together 24/7 with the same members, of course sometimes you want to talk to other people too. ISAC just happens to be that place.”
• “At this ISAC, everyone could see it was just one male idol acting super flirty — the girl idols didn’t really do anything. But the way these teen fangirls are foaming at the mouth and fighting over H2H is hilarious. Like, what did H2H even do lol. It’s so funny how teenage girl fans these days are obsessively trying to drag H2H. ㅠ Guess it really is human instinct to feel jealous of a pretty girl your age.”

| Nate Pann