STAYC Teddy Bear era

The adventurous startup saw its staff grow.

The early album cover image looked like a cat, but soon it changed to the company’s mascot, a bear. The bear hat became STAYC’s popular image, following the cat‑kneading dance of “ASAP.”

To mark their coming of age, they evoked a childlike spirit. More than ever, they emphasized their unity as a team and the shifts in their facial expressions. After this era, the group’s explicit leader position virtually disappeared.

When sound accidents repeatedly occurred during the performance, STAYC carried on with live vocals, singing without accompaniment.

The Adidas–STAYC image probably began here.

“POPPY” seems to have become even more familiar to the general public with little interest in K‑pop.

The Japanese version of “Teddy Bear” was performed on Japanese terrestrial TV.

Yoon naturally kisses Seeun on the cheek.

As adults, JJ, Yoon, and Seeun rescue their sisters from everyday predicaments. In the latter part of the video, all of STAYC become guardian angels. They portrayed dolls that gaze unconditionally, while wishing to be loved in the same way themselves.

The public seemed to like STAYC being in their natural position in the industry. Yet this was unlike Korea’s traditional values. After the end of this era and the “Bubble” era that followed, STAYC began to reveal an adult ego. They shattered the stars they had occupied, chose to walk with imperfection instead of pursuing completeness, and sought to transform the world centered on themselves.

The song’s buildup was calm and conveyed a sense of everyday life. Later, one reactor who would come to favor “Cheeky Icy Thang” most remarked that he had little to say about “Teddy Bear.” Compared to the sharp‑edged arrival of “BEBE” two years later, “Teddy Bear” carried the feeling of having taken magnesium, easing into relaxation.