[IVE ON] REI X AGE20's BEHIND

What happened

IVE's official channel posted behind-the-scenes footage of Rei shooting for AGE20's. In one scene the AGE20's side surprises Rei with a soft gift that the captions label 미니 르쉐 (mini Reuswe). Rei addresses it as Reuswe, says it is similar to Reuswe's fur, says "I want to see our puppy", and answers "this morning" when a caption asks when the dog was last seen. That suggests Reuswe is the name of Rei's dog.

Why Koreans care

Rei says "we" go to Japan the next day to do Music Station, the Japanese TV music show, and that 언니들 (eonnideul, older sisters) have already been contacted about eating together. A caption shows that message going to 밥심즈 (bapsimjeu, "rice-strength crew"). 밥심 (bapsim) is literally "rice strength", the energy a proper meal gives you. The 즈 (jeu, like an English "-z") ending is a playful way to turn a word into a group name. The captions do not say who is in the group. Around the meal break, one caption says hunger is something "even a stylish grown-up" cannot avoid, and once Rei is back another reads "energy charging complete". After the shoot starts, a single spoken word appears, 배시시 (baesisi), following a caption labeled 표정 디렉팅 (pyojeong direkting, expression direction). It is a mimetic word for a quiet, bashful smile with the lips slightly parted and no sound. The captions then show "배시시...?" (baesisi, the same word with a question mark) and 헤헤 (hehe, a giggle). The captions do not say who says the word.

In the Korean comments

The sample is 15 Korean-language comments on this video, highest-liked first, out of 210 comments on the video at collection time. Every one of them is warm. What is specific is that three pair "cute" with a second quality. In translation, one reads "Chic and cute Princess Rei, so lovely". Another reads "Rei brimming with charisma, so cute and pretty". A third points to 0:48 with "cute face, twist charm in the manner of speaking", without saying what the twist is. The captions use the same two words: 카리스마 (karisma, charisma) in one line and 시크 (sikeu, chic) in another. One comment moves away from looks. In translation, it says cute and lovely "goes without saying" and that Rei seems polite, gentle, considerate and warm-hearted. Two comments call Rei 콩수니 (kongsuni) and 콘수니 (konsuni), which look like spelling variants of the nickname the captions use, 콩순이 (Kongsuni).

What the words mean

소화 (sohwa, digestion) literally means digesting food. In fashion and entertainment talk it means carrying something off with ease, whether a look, a pose or a concept. One top comment reads, in translation, "Our Rei has a thousand faces, pulling off everything". A caption says dynamic poses are also perfectly pulled off, using the same word. The register is casual and admiring, everyday praise. In that same comment, 천의 얼굴 (cheonui eolgul, "a face of a thousand") is the stock phrase for someone who can convincingly take on many different looks or roles. 콩순이 (Kongsuni) is literally a name: 콩 (kong, bean) plus 순이 (suni, an old-fashioned girl's name ending). It is also the name of a Korean children's toy and animation character. Here it works as an affectionate pet name. A caption calls Rei "happy Kongsuni" on returning from the meal, and two comments write 콩수니 (kongsuni) and 콘수니 (konsuni). Nothing supplied says why the nickname fits Rei.