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Apart from elements in the MV being considered a practice of appropriating Chinese culture, IVE also received criticism for choosing a concert date to perform in Hong Kong.
IVE is again faced with cultural appropriation controversy ahead of its performance in Hong Kong. Jang Won Young cs was criticized for everything from the unresolved MV controversy to choosing concert dates.
Some time ago, several netizens posted negative comments on social media about IVE ahead of their concert in Hong Kong. The critic alleged that the costumes and props in several scenes of their music videos, "HEYA" and "Accendio," stole elements of traditional Chinese culture.
IVE previously introduced the music video "HEYA" which is known to include many Korean elements. The leader of IVE, Ahn Yu-jin, once said, "We tried to depict the beauty of Korean culture through this music video by including Korean traditions everywhere, from our stage to the costumes."
However, Chinese netizens argue that details such as cloud patterns, landscape backgrounds, embroidered shoes, fan shapes, knots and patterns on copper coins are all elements of traditional Chinese culture.
The controversy doesn't stop there. IVE released another music video for their second song, "Accendio," which also drew criticism from Chinese netizens. Many claim that images of graves in coal mines in Shanxi Province were used in the music video to mock China's historical pain.
Apart from that, some also criticized that IVE held a concert in Hong Kong on July 7, the same day as the July 7 incident that sparked the Sino-Japanese war. Comments such as, "Today is July 7," and "They will be dancing in Hong Kong on the day of the July 7 incident," are evidence of widespread dissatisfaction.
This is not the first time Chinese netizens have accused K-pop artists of stealing Chinese culture. On May 1, Professor Seo Kyung-deok of Sungshin University expressed his frustration with people trying to make a connection between Chinese culture and IVE's music video.
He was angry and said, "Starting from kimchi and hanbok, Korean culture such as samgyetang and fan dance have been claimed as China's. Now, they are even accusing K-pop stars of stealing Chinese culture."
The professor emphasized, "As Korean content attracts the attention of many people around the world, the inferiority complex of Chinese netizens seems to be too severe."
On the other hand, IVE will continue their world tour with their next concerts in Manila on the 13th, Melbourne on the 25th, Sydney on the 28th of this month, and Jakarta on the 24th of August. wk/inta)
