He is now under scrutiny.
A new debate has sparked heated reactions and comments in online K-Pop spaces, and it’s all related to ENHYPEN‘s NI-KI. The star recently went viral for his surprisingly deep and raspy voice… But it wasn’t in a positive light.
The controversy started when clips from the group’s recent appearance on the popular “Killing Voice” series were widely shared on TikTok. In particular, NI-KI’s singing drew attention for its unexpectedly raspy and low tone, so much so that some international viewers are now accusing him of “faking” or “forcing” the tone.
TikTok fans quickly began compiling comparison videos showing NI-KI’s past performances against his most recent one. Many pointed out that the contrast in vocal tone was “too dramatic,” arguing that the change didn’t seem like a natural result of vocal growth or training.
ENHYPEN NIKI is currently gaining attention for forcing a deep voice. pic.twitter.com/WF8PGvmPY9
— Drop K-Pop (@DropKpop) June 20, 2025
One video showing a clip from NI-KI’s 2021 performance next to his 2024 vocals sparked thousands of comments, with some claiming it felt “put on” for effect.
@neokingtaeyong Obviously he got older so his voice is gonna get deeper but there’s no way that’s how he sounds singing that part… #neokingtaeyong #kpop #kpopfyp #kpoptiktok #enhypen #niki #fyp #fypシ #foryoupage ♬ original sound – 💚
However, ENHYPEN fans have stepped in to defend the star. Supporters say the shift in his voice is both natural and expected, especially considering NI-KI was just 15 years old when he debuted with the group in 2020. Now 19, they argue his voice has simply matured through puberty and years of training.
@enrikip i literally had to turn off my comments on my first pinned video because of the amount of ni-ki hate 😭 #engene #enhypen #ni_ki #heeseung #sunghoon #jungwon #jake #sunoo #jay #fy #fyp #foryou #foryoupage ♬ original sound – eunjin ¹⁰⁰⁹ SEEING ENHA
@real_niki_minaj Loved his voice then and now. People calling it forced are wild cuz you can clearly see him get taller and his voice get deeper over time 😬😬 #niki #ni_ki #enhypen #kpop #enhypenniki #nishimurariki #kpopfyp #fyp #nikienhypen ♬ original sound – Real_Niki_Minaj
As the debate continues online, opinions remain divided. While some believe the change in NI-KI’s voice feels unnatural, others see it as a normal part of growing up and developing as an artist. Whether due to vocal training or natural maturity, NI-KI’s recent performance has certainly drawn attention.
