korean baseball cheerleaders Archives

By Steve Pawlyk

Published August 30, 2024

Alright, so let’s talk about these Korean cheerleaders who are absolutely blowing up on TikTok right now. If you’ve been scrolling through your feed and suddenly found yourself hypnotized by a group of cheerleaders doing a super chill dance routine, you’re not alone. These videos have been flooding social media, and it’s all thanks to the cheer squad for the Kia Tigers, a baseball team in Korea.

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Picture this: the routine kicks off with some catchy drum beats, then you hear sneakers squeaking on a gym floor. Suddenly, a thumbs-up pops into view, bobbing up and down like it’s keeping time with the music. This little dance, often called the “Pikki Pikki” dance, has become a viral sensation. We’re talking millions of views on TikTok, all for a dance that’s simple, repetitive, and kinda low-key. But man, is it addictive!

Now, if you’re thinking about the high-energy routines we’re used to in American cheerleading—like the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders rocking out to “Thunderstruck”—this Korean routine might surprise you. The Kia Tigers’ cheerleaders are all about subtlety. They’re not throwing big stunts or flipping around. Instead, they’re gently moving their elbows, mostly staying in one spot, and if we’re being honest, they look a little… bored?

But here’s the thing—that laid-back vibe is totally on purpose. According to Lee Si-Young, the founder of the company that reps the cheer squad, the whole point is to match the chill tone of the music and make it easy for the fans to follow along. They wanted something that felt casual, not over-the-top.

The moves themselves are pretty basic—mostly just dancing with two thumbs up—but when you see it performed deadpan in front of 16,000 fans, over and over during a game, it’s got this weirdly captivating charm. It’s that unassuming nature that’s drawn in fans from all over the world and left a lot of people scratching their heads, wondering what’s so special about it.

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The truth is, this dance has been around since 2022, but it’s only recently exploded in popularity. Why now? Well, it turns out that the Korea Baseball Organization (K.B.O.) is seeing record-breaking crowds, especially with more young women buying tickets. More fans mean more eyes on the cheerleaders—and that means more viral moments like this.

K.B.O. games are known for being super high-energy, and the cheerleaders play a huge role in that. But the strikeout dance is a bit more subdued since it’s performed when the Tigers are on the field, not when they’re up to bat. Tickets to these games are super affordable, too—around $5 to $10—so it’s a great way for younger fans to enjoy a day out, complete with their own food and drinks. And trust me, the atmosphere at a Korean baseball game is like a rock concert compared to the more laid-back vibe of Major League Baseball here in the States.

The song that’s got everyone hooked? It’s called “Lecon Studios” by Olive Beat, and it’s actually a sample from “My Lecon” by the Korean boy band JTL. The cheering staff calls it the “strikeout song,” but fans started calling it “Pikki Pikki” because of the squeaky sound effects. And just like that, a viral dance was born.

This whole thing has even sparked a wave of imitators, with people all over the world trying to mimic the cheerleaders’ blank stares and hip sways. Some folks, like British model and influencer Melissa Minh, have even poked fun at the lack of enthusiasm, but they still admit that these cheerleaders are pretty darn captivating.

It’s kind of wild to think that this is the first time a K.B.O. cheerleading routine has gone viral like this, but the squad is definitely feeling proud of their newfound fame. One cheerleader in particular, Lee Ju-Eun, has become a breakout star. She’s got this bouncy hair and barrettes that have made her a fan favorite in some of the most-watched videos.

Apparently, she’s a little dazed by all the attention, but she’s taking it in stride, enjoying the fun, and seeing it all as a positive experience. And let’s be real, who wouldn’t?

TikTok cheerleader dance Pikki Pikki TikTok

In some of the videos, you might even catch her freshening up her makeup or fanning herself off before jumping into the dance. It’s like she’s almost too cool to care—until the music hits, and then it’s game on. The dance itself is only done when the Tigers are on the field, so the cheerleaders are basically chilling between strikeouts. But when the beat drops, they come alive just enough to do their thing, then slip back into their nonchalant vibe. It’s that mix of effortlessness and charm that’s got everyone talking.

So there you have it—the “Pikki Pikki” dance, the viral sensation you didn’t know you needed, straight from the baseball fields of Korea to the endless scroll of your TikTok feed.