TAIPEI (TVBS News) — South Korean cheerleader Seo Hyun-suk (徐賢淑) officially joined Taiwan's professional basketball scene Wednesday (Oct. 8), signing with the Taoyuan Taiwan Beer Leopards' (台啤雲豹) Leopard Girls squad. The former Doosan Bears and FC Seoul performer received jersey No. 8, considered auspicious in Taiwan for its phonetic similarity to "getting rich" in local pronunciation.
Seo previously starred as a cheerleader for South Korea's Doosan Bears baseball and FC Seoul soccer teams, building a substantial 400,000 Instagram following. The performer now transitions her talents to Taiwan's basketball courts, adapting her dance expertise to an entirely different sporting environment. Her recruitment represents a significant addition to the Leopard Girls, with her distinctive dance style and performance abilities expected to attract substantial audience attention.
The Taipei Fubon Braves (富邦勇士) cheerleading squad, known as the Fubon Angels, simultaneously strengthened its roster with strategic South Korean additions. The team recruited former Leopard Girls performer Lee Ah-Young (李雅英) and returning former Fubon Angels cheerleader Lee Hozeong (李晧禎). Combined with current Fubon Angels member Nam Minjeong (南珉貞), these three South Korean performers have emerged as primary attractions for Taiwan's basketball enthusiasts.
The South Korean cheerleader recruitment trend extends across Taiwan's professional sports landscape, encompassing baseball and basketball organizations. Notable performers include Park Min-seo (朴旻曙) and Ahn Ji-hyeon (安芝儇) representing TSG Hawks baseball (台鋼兩支球隊), and Jo Yeon-joo (趙娟週) performing for Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions baseball (統一獅) and Taoyuan Pauian Pilots basketball (桃園領航猿). Kim Na-yeon (金娜妍) serves dual roles with Wei Chuan Dragons baseball (味全龍) and Taoyuan Pauian Pilots basketball teams. ◼