The K-pop industry frequently faces criticism regarding cultural appropriation, which occurs when elements from one culture are utilised by another without due respect. Groups like Blackpink and KISS OF LIFE have been called out before. Now, SM Entertainment’s new girl group, Hearts2Hearts, has come under the radar. Their recent teaser images for the song ‘STYLE’ have caused a stir on the internet, especially among Japanese fans, who feel their culture was misused. The internet has divided opinions on it. Read on to find out all about it!
Japanese Fans Call Out K-pop Group Hearts2Hearts For Copying Purikura Trend
Hearts2Hearts, a rookie group under SM, recently shared teaser photos for their upcoming track. The images had a colourful style similar to purikura. Wondering what purikura is? It’s an extremely famous and loved photo sticker booth trend in Japan. People go there and click fun and cute photos featuring stickers and adorable elements. The K-pop group’s images caught the attention of Japanese netizens, who shared their concerns and expressed their anger on X (formerly Twitter).
Many Japanese fans felt the teasers copied their cultural trend without credit. They stated that purikura is a unique part of Japan’s history, not Korea’s. Some called it cultural theft. Others accused SM Entertainment of picking parts of Japanese culture while ignoring its deeper meaning. A few even claimed that the entertainment agency discriminates against Japan yet borrows its trends for profit.
On the other side, Hearts2Hearts’ fans rushed to their defence. As per Koreaboo’s reports, they stated that purikura-style photos were also popular in Korea and thought that the backlash was unfair. Some fans added that cultural trends often spread worldwide, so blaming the group felt like an overreaction. Others questioned why Japanese fans were upset when similar photo booth trends exist in many places. They accused them of targeting K-pop unfairly while ignoring shared cultural practices like eating Korean food or using photo apps.
Also Read: KISS OF LIFE’s Agency Apologises After K-Pop Group Receives Massive Backlash!
What are your thoughts?
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