K-Pop Fans Divided Over Viral Tweet About Idol Backup Dancers “Being Extra”

A tweet about K-Pop idols’ backup dancers is now mega-viral, with over 11.9M views.

Unrelated photo of BLACKPINK’s Jennie for illustrative purposes. | @JennieDCGallery/X

It pleaded with “dancer unnies” who “overdo” the choreographies:

근데 댄서언니들 끼좀 그만부리면 안돼요? 한번 신경쓰이니까 영원히 신경쓰임 대체 입술은 왜 깨물고 혀는 왜 내미시는거야ㅜ

— 🛒 (@411cart) August 18, 2024

Can the dancer unnies please stop overdoing everything? Now that I’ve started noticing them, I cannot stop. Like, what is the reason for them to be biting their lips and sticking their tongues out?

— @411cart/X

The tweet, coming from an aespa fan, is assumed to have been triggered by a recent “challenge” featuring member Karina. One of the dancers—tagged in the video as szan—is, allegedly, overdoing the challenge and casting a shadow over the idol who “should be the center of the attention.”

The tweet has since sparked a deep divide among idol fans. Those from different fandoms circulated the tweet with videos from other backup dancers “stealing the spotlight” from idols—accusing the dancers of “taking their Street Woman Fighter era too far”…

이 트윗 보자마자 이거 생각남ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
오른쪽 하ㅜㅜ https://t.co/1fhSYsQQ06 pic.twitter.com/v0OSg5vBvh

— 썸머 (@ssummercuba) August 18, 2024

This tweet immediately reminded me of this, LMAO. The dancer on the right… Sigh.

— @ssummercuba/X

나는 실제로 스키즈 콘서트 갓다가 이거 보고 기겁함 https://t.co/rxdnLcOLen pic.twitter.com/9hJyGY8Vex

— 감자 (@__potato99) August 19, 2024

I actually went to a Stray Kids concert, saw this, and cringed so hard.

— @__potato99/X

하 이거 세븐틴도 ㅈㄴ 심함
살다살다 콘서트에서 댄서 생파해주는 거
난생 처음 본다 진짜 https://t.co/M05onGGEj5

— ^~^ (@yeeeeeeeeee_e_e) August 18, 2024

Sigh. This is a huge problem for SEVENTEEN, too. I’ve never, ever seen a dancer’s birthday be celebrated at an idol group’s concert.

— @yeeeeeeeeee_e_e/X

스우파가 베려놨음 시발 https://t.co/lXBgpvddCH

— 犬 (@dlwngk_00) August 18, 2024

It’s Street Woman Fighter that f*cked it all up.

— @dlwngk_00/X

그게 직업 아니냐하는데 끼는 본인들만의 무대에서 마음껏 펼치시고ㅠㅠ 백댄서는 아이돌을 돋보이게 해줘야지 https://t.co/crhYxFidsM

— Super human (@cort_nyang) August 18, 2024

I know some people are saying it’s literally their job to dance. But they can go hard and be extra when it’s THEIR stage to take. When they’re on the job as backup dancers, they need to be highlighting the idols.

— @cort_nyang/X

끼부리다가 박자 다 밀리시는게 개웃김 https://t.co/veFt9LVo0a

— 에스 (@Ssssooo0_) August 18, 2024

It’s f*cking hilarious how she’s falling behind the beat because she was too busy overdoing it.

— @Ssssooo0_/X

…while others disregarded the hate and praised the dancers for doing their jobs and adding unique vibes to all the performances.

춤추는게 직업인 사람을
왜 조롱을하지 평생 이해 못하겠네 https://t.co/A7f04nLWsL

— 첨쿤쿤 (@ocxzaq) August 18, 2024

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to understand why some people are mocking this dancer for dancing, which is her job.

— @ocxzaq/X

해외 댄서들은 곡 컨셉에 따라서 웃고 몰입해서 표정짓고 다 하는데 한국은 좀만 뭐해도 댄서니까 나대지 말라고 꼽줌. 그게 직업인데. 다들 표정 개굳어서 의무적으로 감정없이 춤추길 바람. 그런 무대가 참 즐겁겠네요 https://t.co/6F1mKrVaRO

— dn (@Romantdumpling) August 18, 2024

Backup dancers around the world laugh on stage, or make faces on stage depending on what the concept of the song is. It’s only in Korea that dancers are shamed for being in the moment. They do their jobs and they’re accused of being extra. Koreans really want everyone to dance like robots carrying out duties, huh? I’m sure those performances would be a blast to watch.

— @Romantdumpling/X

진짜로 왜 이렇게 된 거임 시발 댄서가 춤 뽐낸다고 욕먹는 세상이 됨 ㅜㅜㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 백댄서한테 아이돌이 밀린다면 님새끼가 아이돌력이 부족한게 아닌지 생각해보세요 시발ㅋㅋㅋㅋ 여기서도 카리나 센터에 두고 그냥 밸런스 맞아보이는구만 개지랄들.. 댄서들이 님보다 님아이돌이랑 더 친함 https://t.co/hiQkBN9LGE

— 믕 (@hihiphi00) August 18, 2024

For real… What is wrong with this world? People are hating on a dancer for dancing?! LOL. Listen, if a dancer can outshine your bias… Maybe it’s your bias’s fault. For f*ck’s sake… Even in the challenge video, I think it looks fine with Karina in the center and the two dancers balancing her out. Why the fuss? Remember that these dancers are far closer to the idols than you all will ever be.

— @hihiphi00/X

왕따 단골 사유가 ‘나댄다’인 나라다움 https://t.co/azkNxv4PLW

— 숲 (@ikurataku) August 19, 2024

It only makes sense, coming from a nation whose typical cause of bullying is for being different.

— @ikurataku/X

댄서들이 끼를 부리든말든 자기자유지
아이돌이 직접 불편해하는것도 아니고 개웃김 https://t.co/HnznbUPoVV

— 칰폭 (@chikpokk) August 18, 2024

Let the dancers overdo it if they want. It’s not like the idols themselves have issues with it. This is all just hilarious.

— @chikpokk/X

Some international fans have also noticed szan—though their reactions were, as usual, far different from the Korean ones.

| @aespa_official/Instagram