Yuqi is facing buzz over her impressive Korean language skills. A post on the Korean online community Instiz sparked a lively debate about which foreign K-pop idols speak Korean like natives.
The inquiry started with the question, “Is there a foreign member who speaks Korean like a native?” Notably, it excluded idols who are half-Korean or Korean immigrants. This got K-netizens talking, and the responses rolled in fast.
Among the idols highlighted were TWICE’s Sana, NCT‘s Renjun, I-DLE’s Minnie, Yuqi from (G)I-DLE, RIIZE’s Shotaro, TREASURE’s Haruto, BLACKPINK’s Lisa, and ENHYPEN’s Ni-Ki. Fans particularly pointed to Yuqi. Many praised her fluency, calling her nearly indistinguishable from a native speaker.
"Honestly, I don’t think anyone is that fluent," one user remarked.
Others were shocked to learn Haruto isn’t actually Korean, with some noting his pronunciation sounds very natural.
"I honestly thought Haruto wasn’t just Korean, but specifically from the Jeolla region. His tone is so warm and local," another user commented.
The discussion also led to adorable anecdotes:
"Every time I see Haruto retweeting in Korean, I feel like he speaks Korean better than me. It’s hilarious," a fan said.
K-netizens’ Comments
Netizens couldn’t help but share their thoughts, highlighting various idols:
“Sana.”
“Yuqi, Minnie. Yuqi really has the Korean vibes.”
"Haruto saying ‘Nihonjin da yo (I’m Japanese)’ was hilarious."
“Lisa.”
“Renjun’s pronunciation is so Korean-like, LOL.”
Adding to the discussion, links to videos of idols speaking Korean were also shared, showcasing their skills:
Lisa
Sana
Renjun
Ningning
Shotaro
Yuqi
Haruto
As K-netizens weigh in, it’s clear that fluency in Korean is a cherished talent in the K-pop scene, and idols like Yuqi and Haruto are leading the charge.
