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| “Flexing” With Pride: KIIRAS’ LingLing Goes Viral Just by Holding Her Malaysian Passport |
It doesn’t take much for fans to fall head over heels for their idols — and this week, KIIRAS leader LingLing has done it again, going viral with just one super simple but meaningful moment: showing her Malaysian passport at the airport. Yup, that’s it — and Malaysians are loving every second of it.
On 28th July 2025 (Monday), the six-member rookie girl group KIIRAS (키라스) was spotted at Incheon International Airport en route to Singapore and Malaysia — their very first overseas schedule since debuting back in May.
The group’s airport fashion was already a hot topic, with each member rocking relaxed, stylish looks that suited the Southeast Asian heat perfectly. But it was LingLing, the group’s 20-year-old leader, who unintentionally stole the spotlight.
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In a candid fan-taken photo that quickly made the rounds on Twitter (X), LingLing could be seen casually holding her passport in hand. And that bold red cover with the Malaysian coat of arms? Instantly recognisable.
Within hours, the post went viral, racking up retweets, likes, and hundreds of comments from Malaysians feeling all kinds of emotions — mostly pride.
“I feel so proud to see a Malaysian passport in the K-pop scene,”
“That’s my passport too!”
“She’s flexing and I support it 100%.”
Fans joked that LingLing was “soft-launching” her Malaysian identity all over again, this time through her travel doc. Others noted that the Malaysian passport isn’t just photogenic — it’s powerful.
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As per the latest Henley Passport Index, it currently ranks 11th globally, giving Malaysians visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 181 destinations.
Considering how rare it is to see a Malaysian face leading a K-pop group, the gesture — however unintentional — clearly struck a chord. LingLing is the first female K-pop idol from Malaysia to officially debut in South Korea, and she’s been getting heaps of local love ever since.
And the hype’s only building from here.
🇲🇾 KIIRAS' Huang LingLing’s First Malaysian Schedule as a K-pop Idol
KIIRAS is all set to meet fans in Malaysia this week, and LingLing will finally return home — this time, as a full-blown K-pop star. The girl group will be part of Astro’s “The Music Journey 2” roadshow on 1st August 2025 (Friday) at UOW University, followed by a brand event appearance at a local shopping mall on 2nd August 2025 (Saturday).
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They're also scheduled to do interviews with local radio stations — so if you’ve been dying to hear LingLing speak Manglish again (or maybe some Korean with a Malaysian twist), now’s your chance.
Needless to say, fans are counting down the days, with many saying they’re planning to show up in full force with flags, posters, and possibly even passports of their own.
Can We Expect More #MalaysianPride Moments?
From debut stages to behind-the-scenes clips, LingLing has always given subtle nods to her roots — whether it's in the way she greets fans, shares throwbacks from her childhood in Malaysia, or now, simply by flashing that iconic passport cover. With her coming home for the first time since KIIRAS’ debut, fans are hoping for even more proudly Malaysian moments.
If anything, this viral moment proves one thing loud and clear: you can take the girl out of Malaysia, but you can’t take Malaysia out of the girl.