Lee Joo-eun, the viral cheerleader behind the beloved “Piki Piki Dance”, is making headlines once again—this time not for her moves, but for matters of the heart. Rumors of her romance with Kiwoom Heroes’ outfielder Park Soo-jong erupted after sweet photo booth images of the two surfaced online.
On July 21, social media and online communities were abuzz with photo strips showing the duo posing affectionately, forming finger hearts and casually resting arms around each other. Their chemistry seemed undeniable and fans were quick to connect the dots.
Speculation intensified when netizens discovered that both Lee Joo-eun and Park Soo-jong followed each other on private Instagram accounts, each using childhood photos as profile pictures.
Notably, Lee Joo-eun was reportedly so open about the relationship that she once set her phone wallpaper to a childhood photo of Park Soo-jong, further confirming their bond. Though the accounts no longer follow each other, the signs were enough to send the internet into a frenzy.
Cheerleader Lee Joo-eun and Kiwoom Heroes player Park Soo-jong are at the center of dating rumors, and veteran cheerleader Park Ki-ryang has added fuel to the topic by speaking out about relationships between athletes and cheerleaders. On the upcoming July 22 episode of SBS’s “Dolsing Four Men,” guests include Choi Jin-hyuk, Park Ki-ryang, Lee Joo-yeon, and Shin Kyu-jin.
During the show, Park Ki-ryang revealed one of the unspoken rules of the cheerleading world. She stated, “Athletes often slide into our DMs on social media, but there’s an unspoken rule that cheerleaders shouldn’t date players.” She also demonstrated her signature “head smack” move, claiming that hitting players lightly on the head brings them luck in scoring—leaving everyone surprised.
Lee Joo-eun rose to stardom in 2023 as a cheerleader for the KIA Tigers, captivating fans nationwide with her spontaneous and upbeat “Piki Piki Dance.” A clip of her touching up her makeup, only to jump up and dance the moment music played, went viral, amassing over 100 million views globally.
Her rising fame led to a lucrative move to Taiwan’s Fubon Angels. According to TVBS reports, Lee Joo-eun reportedly signed for a whopping NT$10 million (approximately USD $440,000)—a figure exceeding the average salary of Taiwanese baseball players. In January, she also inked an exclusive contract with Fubon Sports & Entertainment for entertainment activities in Taiwan.
In April, the LG Twins officially announced her return to the KBO cheerleading scene, confirming her participation in their cheer squad. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Park Soo-jong continues to develop as a promising outfielder, having joined the Kiwoom Heroes in 2022 as a developmental player.
Nate
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