IVE's Jang Won-young, Leeseo face criticism for lip-syncing on MBC's year-end show

Members Jang Won-young, left, and Leeseo of girl group IVE during the ″2022 MBC Music Festival″ on Dec. 31 [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Jang Won-young and Leeseo of girl group IVE are under fire for lip-syncing their performance on MBC's year-end show "2022 MBC Music Festival," which aired last Saturday.

K-pop acts have frequently been criticized for lip-syncing their performances, but are usually defended by fans because most of the songs are accompanied by intricate dance moves that make singing simultaneously difficult.

However, the two IVE members lip-synced their performance of IU's 2021 R&B track "Strawberry Moon" while sitting on chairs.

The fact the MBC show was prerecorded added to the backlash with people leaving comments online such as, "Why would you go on stage if you're going to lip-sync sitting down?" and "If all they're going to do is be pretty and not sing, they should have just become models."

The band's agency Starship Entertainment has refused to comment on the issue.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]