Awkward moment K-pop stars freeze on stage over cue card mishap during live broadcast

The South Korean entertainment industry is known for its perfection and professionalism, but even the most talented stars can make mistakes at times.

During a recent music show broadcast, three top K-pop idols were left scrambling on live TV over a simple mistake while co-hosting the 2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon Summer show.

Sungchan, 24, of the boy band RIIZE, alongside NCT Wish’s Sion, 24, and girl group star Ian, 16, from Hearts2Hearts, were left standing awkwardly on screen due to a mistake with their handheld cue cards.

While introducing the next performance, Sion appeared to wrap up the segment too soon before attempting to abruptly walk off stage, seemingly assuming that the cameras had already cut away from him.

Sungchan quickly called him back and the two became flustered as Ian started waving at the camera and performing a series of cute poses in an attempt to buy the trio some time while they waited for the performance to begin. 

Some uncomfortable laughs followed as they started anxiously looking over their cue cards again, before a producer finally intervened and rushed on stage to sort the situation out.

During a recent music show broadcast, three K-pop idols were left scrambling on live TV over a simple mistake while co-hosting the 2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon Summer show

According to Koreaboo, a producer could be heard off camera asking, ‘Shall we try it again?’

They were eventually able to continue the show without any further issues, although some Korean viewers were less than impressed by the error. 

‘They should have studied the script properly…don’t they have rehearsals for live shows? Do they think the viewers are a joke?’ commented one.

‘They handled it very professionally and politely all things considered,’ reasoned another.

Many viewers also pointed out that Sion, Ian, and Sungchan are all signed to the same record label, SM Entertainment.

It comes as KPop Demon Hunters star Ejae, a former SM Entertainment trainee, recently shared some insight into the brutal training she underwent while trying to become a K-pop star.

The singer, 34, has become a global superstar after her song Golden, which she performed with Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna, soared to the top of the charts after being featured in the hit Netflix film.

But before earning worldwide fame, Ejae endured gruelling training at her record label in South Korea when she was a teenager.

As the trio fumbled over their cue cards a producer was forced to rush on stage to fix the awkward moment

NCT Wish’s Sion, 24, girl group star Ian, 16, from Hearts2Hearts, and Sungchan, 24, of the boy band RIIZE are all pictured  backstage

In a candid interview, the musician revealed how she spent 11 years training to sing and dance at SM Entertainment, along with lessons on how to pout, pose for photo shoots, and answer questions in interviews.

Admitting that she can’t say whether she ‘enjoyed’ her training, Ejae also revealed that she was banned from enjoying vices such as junk food and soda, and wasn’t even allowed to chew gum due to the impact it could have on her appearance.

She said: ‘They taught you how to be a pop star… Every month they would take you to do a photoshoot so you could learn how to pose. We did a ton of languages. We learnt Chinese because they knew China would be a huge global audience.’ 

She told The Sunday Times Style magazine: ‘We couldn’t chew gum because it would make your jaws bigger.’

‘We would have to smile in front of the mirror with a ChapStick here,’ demonstrating a pout as if a lip balm could balance between her upper lip and under her nose, adding: ‘because it makes your muscles grow and your face shape [better].’

‘We couldn’t have ear piercings. It was very much no sodas, no greasy food, keeping yourself unbloated and fit. I wouldn’t say it was healthy. Let’s just be real. It’s very ambitious for a teenager.’

Ejae admitted she ‘worked her a*s off’ during her years of training, and said that while it was ‘difficult’, she ‘learned a lot’ during her time there.

Article source: https://www.dailymail.com/tvshowbiz/article-16043059/gayo-daejeon-sion-sungchan-mistake.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490