South Korean girl group RESCENE (리센느) recently shot to unexpected internet fame thanks to the “Geoje YAHO” meme, which propelled their debut song back onto Korean music charts and significantly boosted their popularity. With their increased visibility, RESCENE has secured advertising deals, made frequent appearances on variety shows, and received invitations to participate in local city promotional events, establishing themselves as a highly-discussed “reverse-run girl group” in the K-pop scene. However, at the peak of their rising popularity, a birthday support announcement has ignited fan outrage.
The core of the controversy isn't about birthday gifts in general, but specifically custom in-ear monitors (IEMs), which are crucial for members' performances. Fans have pointed out that the equipment currently used by the members does not appear to be custom-fitted to their individual ear shapes. Furthermore, leaked images reportedly show members using tape around their ears to secure their earphones, shocking many netizens and leading to questions about why the agency hasn't properly provided such fundamental stage equipment for its artists.
Recently, a post on a Korean online forum discussed RESCENE's agency's birthday support announcement. The original poster specifically explained that “Custom In-Ear” doesn't just mean adding elaborate decorations to earphones; it refers to custom-fitting the monitors to each individual's ear shape for a more secure and effective fit.
Therefore, from the fans' perspective, custom in-ear monitors should be considered essential professional equipment for singers, not something that should wait until a member's birthday for fans to provide through “birthday support.”
The original poster even used an analogy involving shoes, stating that if a company made an artist wear ill-fitting straw sandals for three consecutive years, and then posted an announcement saying, “If you want to send custom-made shoes, please inquire via email,” anyone would find it absurd.
The article also mentioned that RESCENE members appear to have been using relatively inexpensive in-ear monitors for a long time, with some related products retailing for around 99,000 Korean won (approximately 2,000 NTD). Fans believe that even if the agency hasn't yet settled payments with the artists, it should prioritize covering the costs of basic work equipment rather than relying on fans to provide it through birthday support.
What further frustrates fans is that RESCENE has five members. If each member has to wait until their birthday to receive custom-fitted in-ear monitors through fan support, it means members whose birthdays have already passed might have to wait another year.
Some fans also pointed out that RESCENE has been frequently traveling for events, festivals, and performances across the country. Members have previously mentioned experiencing difficulties hearing and even hearing “beeping sounds” in their ears. Related live stream content, where members repeatedly discussed these issues, has been unearthed by netizens, and the agency's representative was reportedly watching the live stream at the time.
Now, with the exposure of images showing members seemingly using tape to secure their earphones, discussions across Korean online communities have rapidly intensified.
Many netizens believe that in-ear monitors are basic equipment for singers and that agencies should proactively provide them, not wait for fans to initiate birthday support. One netizen bluntly stated, “How expensive can in-ear monitors be? Even if they haven't settled payments yet, it's just a matter of time for the company. Compared to the money they've earned, it's a small sum. Why not just buy them for them? They are singers, after all.”
Others questioned, “At least buy them in-ear monitors,” and “They've filmed so many commercials and attended so many events; can't they even provide earphones for five people?” Some netizens drew comparisons to the agency's past decision to change the members' dormitory, remarking, “They even changed their dorms, so how expensive can in-ear monitors be? Why aren't they provided?”
Upon seeing photos of members seemingly with tape near their ears, some exclaimed, “What is that? Taping their ears is truly shocking.” Another netizen suggested that if in-ear monitors don't fit well, singers might increase the volume to hear clearly, which could put a long-term strain on their ears. They questioned why the agency didn't prioritize this issue: “If they're wearing ill-fitting, cheap in-ear monitors and have to fix them with tape anyway, they might as well buy better-performing ones. The members must be very uncomfortable.”
Additionally, some netizens mentioned RESCENE's recent participation in numerous advertisements and events, arguing that the agency should first address the artists' basic needs. “Do the most basic things first, then brag about other things,” one comment read. Some even extended their criticism to the company's stage training, suggesting that since RESCENE performs frequently, the agency should invest more resources in dance and stage training, in addition to providing complete equipment.
The entire incident has sparked a debate on Korean online communities: “Is birthday support an additional form of backing, or is it being used to compensate for the agency's basic responsibilities?”
Some fans believe that fan gifts and support should be predicated on idols already having essential work equipment. The fact that even in-ear monitors, necessary for singers' daily performances, seemingly need to be improved through fan birthday support has naturally led to dissatisfaction.
Currently, the discussions primarily stem from Korean online forums and fan communities. The actual specifications and usage duration of the in-ear monitors used by RESCENE members, as well as whether the agency has indeed failed to provide custom-fitted equipment, still await further confirmation. Fans are now watching to see if RESCENE's agency will respond to this controversy.
