I woke up after a day and was still in a daze.
How on earth did I manage to watch the awards ceremony?
“…How can it get any better than this? What do I do?”
That was the fragmented emotion Bae Ha-young was feeling at the moment.
At the Watermelon Music Awards, Debonaire was named Artist of the Year and won two major awards after already taking home the Album Award.
Of course, Debonaire had placed consecutively at 2nd, 3rd, and 4th on the Watermelon annual chart, so no one questioned it.
Fans enjoyed the festive atmosphere, finally releasing the pent-up frustration from the last MWMA without any awards.
However, the real focus of attention from the public and even Home Mama Bae Ha-young was, unsurprisingly, not on the two big awards won.
It was centered on another aspect.
[Yesterday, Lee Do-hee’s special stage viewership ratings ㄷㄷㄷ]
─(5-year viewership trend + peak ratings graph)
Considering it had recently been hovering around 0.6%, the average viewership of 0.9% during the awards ceremony was impressive, especially when Ailee and Debonaire’s stage went up to 1.4% and Lee Do-hee’s solo stage hit 2.1% ㄷㄷ
It was said to have reset the highest ratings in five years for the Watermelon Music Awards.
Right there, on the stage that Do-hee showcased at the ceremony.
The proof was evident even without searching for the stage videos flooding the community.
Just watching the quickly edited footage of Do-hee’s solo stage uploaded overnight by the Watermelon editor made it clear.
[WMMA2025 Lee Do-hee special stage I DO(倒喜) │ #LEEDOHEE#WMMA2025#WMA…]
Watermelon · 5.96 million views · 11 hours ago
“Seriously, the reaction is unbelievable…”
Unlike the usual sparse comments on most award show stages, the current comment section was overflowing with fresh responses and several comments had over ten thousand likes of agreement.
[I’m not a fan, but honestly, this was the best stage yesterday… It really showed what it means to own a stage… You can just tell that Lee Do-hee is in a league of her own, a genius for sure.]
[Is she really 18, lol? Legally, she’s 17 born in 2008. How is that even possible? She might truly be a genius comparable to Bieber or Billie Eilish globally.]
[I’m telling you, I’m convinced that even with changing generations, we won’t see anyone like Lee Do-hee again. Sure, there might be people who criticize her now, but we’ll never see someone like her again in our lifetime.]
[The expressions of other idols just sitting there mesmerized say it all.]
[I’m such an idiot, I didn’t even notice her face, just her fingers and movements… But really, just watching the screen made my heart race, she’s an idol who changes the atmosphere with just one note…]
Moreover, more than half of the top comments were from foreigners.
No matter how many K-pop awards shows attract viewers beyond the domestic audience, it’s as if Do-hee’s performance video is going viral through shorts and SNS.
[What I’m saying is, she’s going to get famous (Ps. She’s already super famous but I mean ridiculously famous!)]
└She is already an icon of 4th generation K-pop idols!
[Many people only focus on Do-hee’s looks. Yes, she’s truly beautiful and has a great appearance, but a lot of people overlook her talents. She has absolute pitch, is an excellent pianist, and also a producer. Plus, she has a unique voice, outstanding dance skills, and raps well too. Please love Do-hee and respect her work.]
She has perfect pitch, is an outstanding pianist, and also a producer. On top of that, she has a unique voice, excellent dance skills, and is good at rapping. Please love Do-hee and respect her work.
—
Yes, she is very pretty, but I wish people would talk more about her talent. I wonder if she’s ever felt like this.
—
On this stage, I was able to see her face a bit late. Her talent is as beautiful as her visuals…
—
I discovered her today, and I can’t escape from this rabbit hole. Everything is beautiful!
—
Haha, she’s also famous for resembling a doll that looks like a rabbit!
—
Princess Alice of the rabbit hole!
—
What stands out in her arpeggio performance is how very staccato it is, with certain keys, notes, and chords emphasized, adding more emotion to her piano playing. This stage is a work that is very intense in emotion. I’m happy that she created her own unique sound because she was a prodigy pianist in classical music.
—
Thank you. I agree. Her other piano pieces were also staccato. Check out “As Fickle as Fortune”; it reminded me of Prokofiev. She’s probably one of the few who comes close to being a queen. Do-hee is still young, and I can’t even imagine what will come next!
—
She has won countless gold medals in Korea’s piano competitions since she was young and even won competitions while promoting as an idol.
—
So, Bae Ha-young was reading all those comments one by one, reminiscing about yesterday, gaining dopamine and satisfaction from it.
“Oh, this is Do-hee-pamine addiction…”
Then, she remembered yesterday’s Do-hee.
With her loosened tie and classic blazer.
And also her unique image shown in black shorts.
Looking more mature than usual.
Her remarks revealing a deeper side than normal.
There was no need for Ha-young’s personal comments.
Do-hee’s award speech was already as much of a hot topic as her solo stage, if not more.
—
Of course, in the news.
“After winning the Album of the Year award at the Watermelon Music Awards, Lee Do-hee said, ‘It’s a beautiful night.’ A somewhat mature remark.”
“Lee Do-hee’s extraordinary acceptance speech for the WMMA Grand Prize is considered legendary.”
—
Numerous posts popped up on SNS and communities.
“From start to finish, it was just freaking beautiful. I envy the air…”
—
Join us!
—
“Do-hee’s stage leaves a lingering impression, but while listening to her speech, I thought this girl is really something. She doesn’t seem 18 at all.”
—
Just being 18 is underwhelming for someone who’s been a trainee, went through survival shows and came in first, while simultaneously winning piano competitions and being first in her entire school from first grade to high school!
—
Honestly, I wasn’t interested in idols while in the army, but Do-hee is the first one to catch my eye.
—
“Looking at that, she seems deep-thinking and articulate, but why is she normally Dorahee?”
—
???: What’s the busiest job in the world? Running around like crazy, lol!
—
Ah.
—
Oh no!!! The Do-hee reverse viral trend has already started!
—
Bae Ha-young thought it was probably because most people resonated with Do-hee’s remarks. Her speech was more than just a simple thank you.
Not just a personal philosophy rambling.
It was more like a heartfelt story about something.
“Oh no, I have to write my thoughts on SNS…”
Dol Ahyee @Dol_Ahyee
─The reason I like Do-hee more is that while she’s mature in her thinking, she speaks playfully and lightly, making those around her feel more comfortable.
Seo-yoon @Jonna_Seoyun
└That might be true, but isn’t that just her personality?
Dol Ahyee @Dol_Ahyee
─Right?
And as if to prove the explosive interest and popularity towards Do-hee, just a week later, before the heat of the stage could even cool down…
Signs of a certain epidemic started showing in South Korea.
The initial symptoms were first observed in a lament post shared in a community.
[Gang, I’m taking piano lessons… Seriously, there are so many kids and adults signing up these days that I’m busier than ever.]
└Isn’t that a good thing?
└No, it’s overwhelming. If I increase the number of instructors, I think many will only last for a month, so it’s tough…
└That’s totally because of Do-hee, LOL.
└Right? I mean, there have been a lot of kids who wanted to be like Do-hee even before, but lately, it’s tripled or quadrupled… even in adult classes, it’s that much, so there’s no answer.
└Is it really that serious…? OMG.
└I can’t even explain…
A piano instructor’s delightful yet painful lament.
[LOL, the kids are so cute. I would totally be like that too.]
In a way, people started sharing cute stories about kids, which softened their hearts, and this trend gradually moved to the community.
Then suddenly, someone raised an intriguing question.
─But don’t you think there are more girls dressed like Do-hee on the streets lately?
It was noted that Do-hee’s monochrome looks were increasingly spotted on the streets and girls’ Instagram.
─Is that so?
It was clear that this style was popular among Koreans, and they just hadn’t noticed until now.
It was a bit odd that girls were exclusively wearing monochrome outfits, especially when the plain hair style from Debonaire was also frequently seen.
However, while the members’ appearances were unique, straight hair itself wasn’t anything special, so it seemed to slide under the radar.
[Chaeyoung, what are you up to?]
[My routine these days is to start with stretching in the morning!]
[My love, strawberry latte haha]
[What sound does a physicist make when they laugh? physic heh heh]
However, watching the behavioral patterns and speech of girls dressed like this suddenly change made everyone realize.
That the so-called ‘Do-hee Syndrome’ had emerged.
[Ah, dammit, I think my crush also has Do-hee Syndrome.]
─The girl I liked at school originally loved pink accessories and was cute but quiet and shy, but I knew she was already a huge fan of Do-hee, right?
So we were getting closer talking about whether to go see the Debonaire concert together…
After seeing Do-hee Lee on stage, her outfit suddenly changed…
She took off all her pink accessories, swapped to a monochrome bag, loosened her school uniform tie, and opened her jacket, just like during that piano performance…
But up to this point, it was fine! It even looked cute.
Then out of nowhere, she starts making these weird dad jokes (What happens when a king throws a ball? “I present it to you, Your Majesty!”… I swear, it was ridiculous… but she was cute, so I let it slide).
This girl laughs so loudly too… speaking formally to friends with “Mr. XX, what are you doing?” then occasionally glancing around and chuckling, which is honestly heart-fluttering… I’m going crazy…
└ When are we having elections?
└ I’m feeling off just reading this.
└ Yeah, she likes Do-hee, not you.
And the range of “Do-hee Syndrome” was vast.
[I want to kill that crazy sister suffering from Do-hee Syndrome.]
─ I mean, my name is Hyun, but she keeps coming over to me? And then she acts all cute, looking around like she’s the queen of the world?
She’s like a soybean paste.
And the way she talks is ridiculous. Suddenly, if someone says “smart Hyun,” I just want to smack her. Talking nonsense.
So when I ignore her and go into my room, she follows me with that moody voice.
That surely reflects the universally accepted truth that people want to smack Hyunwoo when they see him… I’m interpreting it freely and slapping her around. Then I start banging my head. I want to kill that crazy girl.
└ Your sister-in-law is quite cheerful, huh? haha
└ I told you, she’s like a soybean paste!
What can I say, it seemed like everyone thought everything about Do-hee’s behavior was great, and people started mimicking her endlessly.
Eventually, at some point, ‘Do-hee Syndrome’ exploded all over South Korea.
To summarize the typical behaviors, it looked like this:
[Do-hee Syndrome]
─ Occasionally glancing around and chuckling softly or giggling
─ Acting formally and saying “Mr. XX” when calling close friends
─ Always ordering strawberry latte at cafes
─ Sitting up straight when on a chair (most fail)
─ Preferring to leave clothes wrinkled rather than pressed
─ When laughing, doing it exuberantly as if gasping for breath
─ Enjoying dad jokes and occasionally telling them too
─ Creating a routine for herself and sticking to it, starting every morning with stretches (most fail)
─ Sometimes needing to speak seriously even when joking
─ Questioning the meaning of each Chinese character word
─ Must read a lot (most fail)
Of course, it was a syndrome packed with contradictions.
└ Why does it seem like all the essentials are failing? LOL
└ Reminds me of my little sister; she tried to follow the routine but gave up after just one day! LOL
While anyone can easily mimic her looks and behaviors, it’s hard to follow the depth of it.
By the way, there are people skeptical about the Do-hee Syndrome itself.
“Hey, bring that melon your mom cut over.”
“Mom, my sister is bothering me again!”
“Oh, what? Your sister came after a long time to spend time with you, and all you can say is that? Just give her a kiss.”
“Ah, don’t you dare! Don’t you dare!”
Being strict with herself aside…
Why? Why the heck that behavior pattern? What’s up with that?
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