K-pop idols graced the stage at the inaugural KFINITY Music Festival 2025, held over the weekend on Saturday (1st November), at the IOI Mall Damansara Exhibition and Convention Centre. Fans were both moved and mesmerised by the stellar line-up, which featured THAMA, SOLE, iKON’s JU-NE, BIGBANG’s TAEYANG, YUJU, and 2NE1’s MINZY.
We personally thoroughly enjoyed the show, especially when our favourites took to the stage to perform some of their biggest solo and group hits. That said, it’s understandable that some acts’ music may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but one particular rating has left Malaysian fans riled up. Here’s what happened:
A concert attendee posted her ratings and comments on each act at the KFINITY Music Festival 2025 on their TikTok channel. When it came to iKON’s main vocalist JU-NE (구준회), the fan gave him a 6/10 rating and remarked that his performance was “lazy” compared to his bandmate JAY, who had performed in Malaysia last month. The user even went so far as to call the singer a “diva”, adding that he did not deliver his performance “like how he was supposed to”.
This, of course, sparked strong reactions from iKONICs (iKON fans), who disagreed with the user’s opinions. Many defended the idol, pointing out that he was performing as a soloist, so expecting him to deliver a show identical to that of his bandmates was unfair, as each member has their own artistry and performance style. It’s also worth noting that JU-NE’s solo music leans more towards rock than K-pop, so performing his songs in the same way as iKON typically would simply wouldn’t make sense.
Fans also disputed the “lazy” claims, noting that the singer was singing and rapping live, playing an instrument, and hyping up the audience throughout his entire set. Some also pointed out that JU-NE has a more introverted personality, which may explain the “diva” perception, though that’s something many iKONICs are already familiar with.
As for the TikTok user, she has since responded to the criticism on her video, clarifying that she had already stated in a disclaimer in the caption that she was simply sharing her own thoughts and experience, with no intention of hurting anyone. What do you think? Do you agree with her rating and comments, or do you think she could have phrased her opinions a little better?
