NCT member Renjun (런쥔) has recently become a focal point of online discussion due to his appearance and styling. Even before his hiatus in 2024, Renjun frequently faced malicious comments from some netizens regarding his looks, and his casual public appearances often sparked mixed reactions.
Recently, a video of Renjun went viral online, once again making his appearance a topic of conversation. Earlier this year, Renjun and fellow member Chenle (천러) held fan events in China, and a behind-the-scenes video documenting their activities there was later released.
In one scene, Renjun is seen playing with Chenle's family. He sported a curly wolf cut hairstyle and high-waisted shorts, creating an overall neutral and soft look. After the clip was shared on X (formerly Twitter), some netizens posted transphobic comments about his appearance, even directly questioning if he was undergoing gender transition.
One comment read: "I'm not being sarcastic or passive-aggressive, I genuinely want to ask, is he undergoing gender transition?"
These comments quickly drew backlash from other netizens. Some argued that associating a man's feminine or neutral appearance directly with "gender transition" reflects a misunderstanding of gender and gender expression, and can be harmful.
One netizen expressed frustration, stating: "Do we really need to get this upset just because a man looks more neutral? Please, his hair, makeup, contact lenses, and overall styling are all designed by his stylist. Why are we acting like he committed some heinous crime?"
Another netizen directly challenged the notion, saying that if anyone who sees a feminine or neutral-looking person in the K-pop scene immediately assumes they are transgender, "then I'm genuinely curious how you understand the real world and gender."
Some also noticed that several of the controversial posts appeared to be direct copies of other people's tweets, suggesting that someone was deliberately reposting to incite negative attacks while Renjun's video was gaining attention.
Given the increasing discussions in the Korean entertainment industry about male idols' fashion and gender expression, Renjun's renewed criticism for his neutral style has led many fans to question whether some netizens' aesthetic standards for male idols are too narrow. It has also prompted many fans to assert that a "feminine" or "neutral" appearance does not, in itself, define a person's gender identity or gender transition status.
