Huh Yunjin’s recent live performance at 2026 Gold Record Awards (GDA) has become a new flashpoint in Korean online communities. After clips of her stage circulated, reactions from Korean netizens quickly exploded. Many criticized her for singing off-key and losing pitch from the first notes, with some even comparing her performance to this “someone who imitates bad singing in a comedy show.”
For some viewers, it was no longer about an emotional interpretation or the choice of a difficult song. Instead, they argued that it reflected fundamental technical problems, particularly the inability to maintain a stable pitch. Yunjin’s trembling voice, heavy emphasis, and intense facial expressions further fueled criticism, as detractors said that when the audio itself is unconvincing, the dramatic acting on stage only seems forced.
In music forums and community forums, thousands of comments have resurfaced a long-standing argument: that Yunjin has yet to deliver a truly strong live stage since debut, despite being introduced as the lead singer of her group. The recurring narrative of “His live singing has improved” has been labeled by some as media-driven image management, with critics pointing out that the same vocal problems continue to appear. This has led to renewed questions about whether LE SSERAFIM really has a lead voice by traditional standards.
Some of the harshest reactions from netizens included remarks such as: “I’ve never seen her sing well live” “The melody is simple, but she still can’t stay in tune,” AND “It seems like someone is making a parody of bad singing.” One particularly biting comment compared his voice “exchanging his voice for legs like The Little Mermaid – painfully difficult to listen to.”
Born in 2001 in Seoul and raised in New York, Huh Yunjin was initially seen as a promising figure of the new generation of idols. With formal vocal training, exposure to opera and a naturally powerful tone, expectations were high when she was introduced as a member of LE SSERAFIM. Even during his early exit from Produce 48his vocal potential stood out.
Early in her career, Yunjin earned a good reputation through her artistic sensitivity by participating in songwriting, composing, and releasing solo songs with a strong personal identity. However, as his activities continued, so did the controversy.
The real turning point comes in April 2024, when LE SSERAFIM perform at Coachella for the first time. The group faced intense criticism for live singing weaknesses, and Yunjin, despite her position as lead singer, was unable to escape scrutiny. The consequences went beyond a single phase, significantly affecting both the group’s reputation and public trust, while also fueling broader skepticism towards HYBE’s idol system.
From CoachellaLE SSERAFIM attempted to recover its image through frequent returns and greater attention to the live encore stages. However, the media impact has not returned to its previous peak, and every time Yunjin sings live, the audience’s attention seems more analytical than appreciative. His Gold Record Awards The 2026 performance reignited the debate once again proving that for now the controversy over his live voice remains unresolved.
Sources: Daum
