K-pop girl group IVE’s latest song “Heya” has been released to global acclaim, yet it faces hate comments from some Chinese netizens accusing it of imitating Chinese style.
The group unveiled their second mini-album, “IVE Switch,” along with the music video for its title track “Heya” on April 29.
The video begins with a scroll opening in a shade of blue. The members captivate viewers with their trendy interpretations of outfits with an oriental mood and eye-catching accessories like traditional Korean ornaments.
The six girls, depicted as illustrations, exude classic beauty, while their impressive dance performances create an ethereal atmosphere. The scenes featuring a tiger surrounding the sun evoke a folk-tale-like fantasy, reminiscent of a tiger in love with the sun.
However, some Chinese netizens are making baseless claims of “stealing” Chinese culture. These comments have crossed the line on the official music video for the song. Artist Park Ji-eun, who created the 2D original drawings for the music video, explained, “The official concept of ‘Heya’ is about the beauty of Korea and a tiger that fell in love with the sun, using a traditional durumari (scroll-like) format.” She added, “The sections of traditional paintings are presented in various teaser forms, including character, portrait, and landscape painting.”
South Korean netizens have sharply criticized these absurd claims from some Chinese netizens. They dismiss the accusations as unworthy of response, questioning the lack of evidence for cultural appropriation and pointing out that “The costumes are traditional Korean hanbok, so these claims are baseless.”
The music video has surpassed 10 million views within just 19 hours of its release, reaching third place in trending music and first place in YouTube music video trends worldwide, demonstrating its global popularity.
This article was originally published on April 30, 2024.
