As IVE continues to strengthen its global presence, the unusual interactions between member Rei and rapper pH-1, whose real name is Park Jun Won, on their personal social media accounts have sparked sharply divided reactions among fans.
The discussion began after pH-1 repeatedly left comments on Rei’s personal account. When Rei shared glimpses of her daily life accompanied by new music, pH-1 responded with witty emoji comments, with Rei replying using symbolic emojis of her own and creating a friendly atmosphere. pH-1 also shared one of Rei’s posts directly to his own Instagram Story, quoting wording from an album released by his label and showing his support for her.
However, some fans have expressed frustration with the way the two interact online. One fan complained, “I’m tired of seeing pH-1 liking Rei’s posts faster than fans almost every time she uploads something since last year.” After lyrics from pH-1’s recently released song included lines along the meaning of “Send hearts to every part of you / So other guys will notice,” some fans began speculating that the lyrics might be connected to his interactions with Rei. Their 15-year age gap, with pH-1 born in 1989 and Rei in 2004, has also contributed to some fans’ concerns.
On the other hand, many have urged others not to read too much into what may simply be an interaction between musical colleagues. Since Rei was the one who initially used music by the senior artist in her post, some view pH-1’s response as a natural gesture of appreciation. This has led to criticism that “it is excessive for fans to try to control even the ordinary interactions between singers, such as sharing each other’s music and communicating online.”
Amid the controversy, IVE’s momentum remains unstoppable. The music video for their hit song “I AM” has surpassed 400 million views, while the group has not only secured a place on major Korean annual music charts but has also achieved long-term charting on the U.S. Billboard charts, further demonstrating their global influence. Leaving the fan-fueled incident behind, IVE is now focusing fully on the stages of their second world tour as they continue meeting fans around the world and strengthening their global standing.
Sources: Naver