Korean netizens have mixed reactions to IVE Leeseo referring to reddish brown as “fermented squid color” 

IVE’s Leeseo gets caught up in a controversy over her vocabulary.

On April 10th, a new video on the YouTube channel “MMTG” with the guest appearance of IVE was posted. 

MC JaeJae mentioned the changed atmosphere, saying, “You guys came after a long time. It’s been 11 months since you came. Leeseo has become much calmer.”

Leeseo replied, “I’m a high school student now. I have become a little calmer since I became a high school student.” Then Yujin pointed at Leeseo, who had dyed her hair black, and said, “She also dyed her hair.” Leeseo asked if JaeJae remembered the hair color she had in the previous shoot, to which JaeJae replied, “It was reddish-brown.” 

When JaeJae said, “It was reddish-brown. Red-brown. Doesn’t Leeseo know reddish-brown?” Leeseo shouted, “I know! It’s fermented squid color, isn’t it?” JaeJae, taken aback, said, “Don’t you use the term ‘reddish-brown’ these days?”

The reactions of Korean netizens to Leeseo’s “fermented squid” comment were mixed.

Some netizens said, “It’s so cute. This is a high school student’s joke.” “Her fermented squid comment was the funniest.” and “I think I misheard her saying ‘fermented squid’ from the beginning.” They defended Leeseo’s comment.

On the other hand, some netizens expressed concern, saying, “Is it just a set-up? Can’t a high school student know the word ‘reddish-brown’?” and “She has a serious vocabulary problem because she has been a trainee since she was young.”

Meanwhile, Leeseo was born in 2007 and worked as a kid model under SM Entertainment from 2016. After that, she was cast by Starship Entertainment in 2019, when she was in sixth grade of elementary school. In 2021, she debuted as a member of IVE. Since then, Leeseo has also set the record for the youngest idol member to win first place on a terrestrial music show in girl group history.

Source: Nate