Roy Kim opens up about viral “What batch are you in?” meme at concerts

24 May 2026, 00:48 by hjang · allkpop

The May 20, 2026 (KST) MBC’s 'Radio Star' featured a special “Spring Festival” episode with Kim Chang Wan, Jannabi’s Choi Jung Hoon, Roy Kim, and Hanroro.

During the show, Roy Kim, a former Marine, opened up about a recurring audience interaction that eventually became a meme. "It’s been over five years since I was discharged from the Marines. At one of my comeback performances, a former Marine in the audience shouted, ‘What batch are you in?’ That moment became a huge topic and eventually turned into a meme," he shared.

Roy Kim then recalled a memorable moment from one of his solo concerts. "People seem to enjoy teasing me with it. One time, a woman in the audience suddenly shouted, ‘What batch are you in?!’" he said, drawing laughter from the studio.

Concerned that the joke might unintentionally reflect poorly on the Marine Corps, Roy Kim said he started seriously explaining himself to the audience member. However, the situation quickly took an unexpected turn.

"She suddenly told me, ‘I don’t speak Korean,’" he revealed.

The singer later shared that the audience member was actually from Poland, leaving the entire studio in stitches once again.

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