What Is an 'Ending Fairy' in K-Pop? the Complete Guide to the Phenomenon Started by Jung Chaeyeon
By James H. Sterling
By 2020, the sincerity of the original trope began to collapse under its own weight. Viewers noticed idols artificially amplifying their panting, fluttering their eyelashes, or maintaining frozen gazes long past the point of authenticity. The trope had reached saturation.
Then came the subversion. Senior idols, tired of the prescriptive glamour, turned the ending fairy into high comedy.
SHINee's Key led the shift during the group's "Don't Call Me" promotions in 2021. After completing an athletic performance, the camera landed on Key. Instead of an ethereal smile, he pantomimed comically exaggerated hyperventilation, holding his chest and eyes wide before breaking into a grin. The clip generated millions of views, opening the floodgates for artists to mock the convention.
Soon after, BTOB took the parody further, holding handwritten notes to the camera, showcasing grocery lists, or pointing toward other members who were visibly chewing gum or ignoring the lens. During a 2022 stage, 2PM's Junho and Taecyeon used their ending cuts to check imaginary wristwatches and advertise local food spots. What began as a visual display of beauty had evolved into a canvas for comedic relief.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
