The foundation of her antis being rooted in anti-Chinese sentiment has come to light, leading to controversy around overseas Chinese. As a result, it seems the antis have quieted down, possibly because the game lost its fun.
Buzz Factor:
"Love Dive" has reached number one on the Circle Chart for the year, successfully pushing "Tomboy" out of the top spot. It has been reported that collecting photo cards has become a trend among elementary school students, but there was also a significant incident of fraud within the fandom regarding unreported photo cards. Rumors suggest the losses could be as high as 100 million won, involving even foreigners.
First week sales:
First week sales wrapped up at 920,000 copies. Expectations were around 700,000 to 800,000, slightly more than double the previous release, but it seems the recent rise in girl group album sales has boosted unity within the fandom. The early momentum was largely driven by Wonyoung’s Chinese fanbase, which reportedly continued to support the purchase numbers quickly even after the first week sales count began.
The core fanbase in China has been solid since the IZONE days, and the rumors about Wonyoung being of Chinese descent likely helped deepen this commitment. Additionally, unlike aespa, which had somewhat ambiguous reactions in terms of support, the domestic response to the music charts has been strong, reflecting well on Spotify as well, maximizing her presence as a "trendsetter."
While (G)I-DLE's "Tomboy" had a long run as a hit in the first half of the year, as we move into the latter half, the consecutive hits of "Love Dive" and "After Like" are making quite an impression in the community, leading to growing opinions that IVE might be in line for a daesang. With BTS taking a break, this gap is creating opportunities for solo activities and rising popularity. It seems there’s a tendency for the desire to completely change the game, especially since other boy groups aren't managing to pull it off properly.
: As for Spotify rankings, they entered global at 23rd and 82nd in the U.S., marking their best performance after Blackpink. This time, TWICE came in at global 49th and U.S. 83rd.
: I thought TWICE had built some foundation through their tours and English singles in North America, but it seems IVE has a compelling appeal that goes beyond these physical efforts. At this point, the lack of Spotify results for aespa might be critical. The era where "overseas popularity" can now be verified by numbers means that it's essential to manage team careers and establish positioning not just on Billboard but in various ways.
Jungkook
: He went to IU's concert two days in a row, and there were even sightings. Considering how people were trying hard to link Jungkook and IU in scandals for a while on DC, it seems that this time, because they went so confidently, the trolls are surprisingly quiet. I also feel that V’s dating rumors might actually give the other members some breathing room in terms of their private lives. If there’s a real relationship, there’s no reason for DC's delusions to gain traction.
IVE
Recent updates
: IVE performed at several university festivals, including Yonsei's Akaraka. Given the buzz around (G)I-DLE’s university festival fan cams earlier this year, it doesn’t seem like IVE is monopolizing the issues despite having hit songs. There seems to be lingering doubt in the community regarding IVE’s performance, which might be influencing this situation. At Akaraka, since NewJeans and LE SSERAFIM performed on the same day, the attention was shared, making it feel like IVE produced fewer issues.
: One channel, particularly focused on Akaraka fan cams (Yonsei Milk), received notable views: NewJeans reached 170,000 views, LE SSERAFIM 510,000 views, and IVE only 150,000 views. Another channel that uploaded full videos for each group (Wonie Blue) shows IVE at 210,000 views, LE SSERAFIM at 240,000 views, and NewJeans at 170,000 views. Despite the three teams being similar in performance, LE SSERAFIM's videos are garnering more attention, which raises questions about IVE’s sales performance, as it feels unusual given their strong presence. Additionally, ongoing discussions about IVE's lip-syncing issues are somewhat affecting their festival buzz. There have been several comments noting that only Ahn Yujin's voice was clearly heard.
: It seems K.Will is doing some promotions for his concert and mentioned IVE on the radio. He said that the company atmosphere was a bit anxious before IVE's success, but since they broke through, there’s a sense of ease now. He pointed out that the pandemic made things difficult for the entertainment industry, leading to some nervousness. While there’s nothing problematic about his comments, this kind of image building inevitably makes the team’s identity feel somewhat outdated.
Moreover, while it may not be immediately evident, there could be underlying feelings of inferiority among the fandoms of MONSTA X and WJSN, and this could become a long-term risk as these feelings are provoked. Especially since IVE's sudden surge in popularity has led to ongoing questions about the reality of their success, and there are quite a few trolls trying to paint a negative image of Jang Wonyoung, showing that it’s risky to flaunt their swag too carelessly.
[...]
: Moreover, after a post appeared in Mom Cafe about a mother buying an IVE album for her child, who was teased for having a fake one, such posts have begun to spread, making it even more dubious. Considering the current situation of STAYC, which was rumored to have many elementary school fans, explaining IVE's popularity in this way feels insufficient.
Jang Wonyoung
: She has departed for Paris for Fashion Week. As a solo star with a strong presence, all the photos taken of her alone look stunning. Recently, there’s been feedback that the team has stabilized their styling after changing makeup shops. However, there are also critiques pointing out that the number of fans present in the fan service videos is too low to truly assess their popularity. Since IVE is strongly identified with Jang Wonyoung and the other members, there’s a continuous push to validate Jang Wonyoung’s celebrity status.
IVE
Jang Wonyoung:
: The company’s excessive pace is leading to backlash that it can’t handle. As the trolls questioning IVE's success find that public sentiment isn’t expanding as they hoped, they’ve shifted to focusing their attacks on Jang Wonyoung.
:It seems that the anti-fan groups are becoming more cautious since the lawsuit against HYBE, but Jang Wonyoung’s critics continue to provide plenty of fodder. Recently, there’s been a constant fixation on her, suggesting an organized anti-viral effort connected to the community atmosphere. On DC, a recurring issue for IVE's antis have been the notion that Jang Wonyoung is of Chinese descent, with underlying anti-China sentiment fueling a sort of targeted attack against IVE, resembling a form of genocide play. IVE is referred to as "아문화" (I-Culture) on DC, which seems to be a play on "다문화" (Multicultural).
: Lately, the ongoing attacks have centered around a conspiracy theory that IVE was originally set to debut as a seven-member group, and that Jang Wonyoung opposed the debut of Park Sun, a trainee from Idol School, leading to the project’s cancellation.
: The narrative suggests that Park Sun, the granddaughter of a wealthy family, is a true chaebol but has hidden her Chinese identity, while Jang Wonyoung is painted as a fake luxury character who has "washed" her identity by presenting herself as a local from Ichon-dong with a background in an English kindergarten.
: As evidence for this series of rumors, it’s noted that IVE’s individual member color concepts were originally based on the seven colors of a prism, which raises questions about any gaps in their concept. Previously, there were rumors that Jang Wonyoung’s obsession with her “golden maknae” role led her to dislike and bully LeeSeo, but it seems that tactic has been ineffective and they’ve adjusted their strategy. The intent appears to be to undermine Jang Wonyoung’s character in a way that impacts the team’s cohesion, as everyone knows that both IVE's strengths and weaknesses are closely tied to her.
Park Jinyoung
Worldwide challenge
: He is traveling the world to conduct the "Groove Back" challenge, which isn’t even tied to a released song—it’s just a challenge for the sake of the challenge. They’re mobilizing a large number of people to continue this in Barcelona, Bangkok, São Paulo, and LA. In LA, even members of ITZY, who were there for a tour, joined in.
: It seems like they plan to announce the music video after completing the challenge, but it’s absurd that the popularity and the challenge are out of order. It even looks like the challenge world tour is collaborating with the ongoing K-pop random play dance events, which feels like a reaction fueled by jealousy towards PSY’s "That That."
BlackPink
World tour
: Their world tour is starting this week with a performance in Dallas, kicking off their North American leg. It seems like there won’t be much new content or issues to manage for a while. They won’t be performing at year-end stages, and they’re set to appear at the UK’s Hyde Park BST next July. The group’s rise to fame began at Coachella, and it looks like they’re planning similar strategies for Europe.
There was some controversy over the GMA Global Popularity Award voting, with most of the negative votes reportedly against BLACKPINK—likely influenced by Lisa's overseas fandom. With the MAMA fan choice voting now open, there’s a growing atmosphere of voting-related issues brewing beneath the surface. Reports suggest that the voting between BLACKPINK and TWICE is quite close, highlighting the beginning of a new era for girl groups.
AKMU
Lee Chanhyuk
: It seems like she’s trying to do everything he couldn’t do as part of the team during his solo activities, but for some reason, it’s turning into a situation where she’s getting unfairly criticized. After raising his likability on "I Live Alone", the media has contributed to creating a negative atmosphere around him. He had a silent interview at MCountdown and performed a head-shaving act on Inkigayo, even gifting his shaved hair to fans who came to the studio.
[IVE] mentioned above
NMIXX
The member who left
: Without any warning, a notice was released that member Jinni would be leaving the group. She was a member who trained for an impressive seven years, yet the only explanation given was "personal reasons," without any mention of health or academic issues, leading to various speculations and rumors. Looking at the situation at MAMA, it seems like the company isn’t abandoning this team, especially since NewJeans didn’t receive an award while ENHYPEN did. Additionally, the member herself had talked to fans about planning for the future after receiving an award, leaving the fandom in a state of shock.
In hindsight, while the members did pause communication for a few days, it wasn’t long, and people assumed they were just busy practicing for year-end stages. The self-produced content that was previously announced was also canceled due to "production issues," indicating that something urgent must have occurred—almost like a decision was made hastily. For now, they attended the AAA awards as a six-member group, showing some actions to reassure the remaining fans.
Because the reason for the departure is unclear, one of the first suspicions raised is that Haewon, who has a strong personality like a class president, may have controlled the more introverted Jinny too much, leading to conflict. It seems that there have been quite a few anti-Haewon sentiments already circulating on platforms like DC, as there are multiple GIFs of Haewon giving Jinny signals or directions.
:Rumors are circulating, including memes featuring groups like Girls' Generation and TWICE, but it doesn't seem likely to become a major controversy. However, there is a long-term risk in the perception of a hierarchy among members, which could become problematic. At MAMA, Haewon appeared wearing an absurdly large hat, blocking the view of her favorite member, which may have led to some people harboring resentment towards her, potentially spreading more rumors.
: Next, there are rumors coming from the anti-fan community about sudden dating rumors that have appeared with every unexpected departure from JYP. They are alleging that Jinny left without saying goodbye because of a connection to a member of a new group, UNITE, linked to model activities. However, they haven’t presented any solid evidence, and the low recognition of the other member means they can’t even attract attention. Furthermore, even if this were true, creating a public sentiment that would support the expulsion of a member over dating issues, while maintaining other members despite issues like drunk driving or bullying, seems illogical. In the idol scene overall, but particularly when negative issues arise related to JYP, there’s a reflexive response demanding that “Stray Kids’ Hyunjin should be let go.” The company should have managed the agenda better, but it seems that when emotional reactions mix with issue responses, they miss important areas.
: However, the situation has been rapidly changing in recent days. It appears that Sojang has targeted this group and is persistently attacking it, with Jinni’s issues now linked to an incident involving Sullyoon. The publicly known incident revolves around a well-known account that is supposedly a friend of Sullyoon's from before her debut, who became prominent by releasing exclusive past photos of Sullyoon, leading to allegations of her involvement.
: In essence, the suspicion is that Sullyoon directly provided information to her influencer friend, essentially orchestrating a form of personal viral marketing. This influencer has reportedly made a significant amount of money selling Sullyoon signed polaroids, with some selling for as much as one million won. However, if these photos were directly provided by Sullyoon and she shares in the profits from their sales, the situation becomes considerably more complicated. Additionally, Sullyoon had a private Twitter account and has been communicating with her influencer friend through that account, subtly revealing their connection in official fan communications and bubble messages to meet her friends' needs.
: It’s said that they’re even accepting dating, but the most critical part of this series of rumors is that Sullyoon allegedly shared the demo of "DICE" with the influencer first and expressed her anger over not liking the song and concept. There was an incident where this person recorded and leaked parts of the song before its release. There are suspicious events that the core fandom was already aware of, and pieces of the puzzle are aligning with these rumors, making it hard to outright deny the allegations. At the same time, continuing to support a member who seems to lack affection for the team feels pretty disheartening. On top of that, if you think about the members who dated within the team—where one ended up being the scapegoat and leaving, while a more favored member remained and was treated as the last hope for the group—it can be incredibly painful.
: There are even claims that Sullyoon talked about Jinni’s hidden family issues, and it’s reported that Kyujin, known for her "big wave" persona, is struggling with the chaotic team atmosphere to the point of needing psychiatric medication. The information and rumors that have surfaced in support of the allegations against Sullyoon are so devastating that it’s likely causing significant emotional damage to both the members and the fans.
: Moreover, the series of revelations gained traction to the point where many people initially pointed to Haewon as the culprit, speculating that Jinni, unable to withstand Haewon's bullying, chose to sleep on the living room sofa instead of in their shared room. However, it turns out that Haewon became Jinny’s roommate to keep an eye on the consistently problematic members, trying to steer the team in a better direction. This situation has forced Haewon’s fans to expose the problematic members in order to save their favorite.
: Ultimately, when issues arise within the team, trying to brush them under the rug often leads to an innocent member being unfairly targeted. This can escalate into larger problems through mutual targeting among individual fandoms. This situation highlights the importance of clear initial statements in risk management. If there had been at least a plausible justification and process regarding Jinni’s departure, the situation might not have spiraled like this.
: Regardless, whether this incident will bring dating issues to the forefront remains uncertain, but it seems the team atmosphere has already deteriorated. Those who were initially supportive of NMIXX, perhaps due to the investment of time, may start to awaken to reality, making it increasingly difficult to outwardly support the team. For fans, accepting that they are returning with a song that even the members dislike is truly humiliating.
: The most alarming aspect of this situation is the premise that if even parts of these stories are true, the key figure who tracked their dating activities and reported related photos to JYP, prompting the company to suggest the departure of the problematic members, is actually a fan of UNITE and Brand New Boys. It seems that a handful of fans, having noticed their favorite trainees dating, have taken it upon themselves to drive the NMIXX anti-fan narrative, especially since the other side has debuted under a larger company. The increasingly obsessive behavior of both the trainees and fans is escalating in strange ways, making the launch of new idols more challenging than anyone could have imagined.
New song teasing
: On January 5, they're making a single comeback with a song titled "LOVE 119," which has a K-retro vibe reminiscent of MC Mong, so that caught me off guard. The teaser for the song’s intro revealed that it samples Lee Ji's "Emergency Room." Fans who attended the recording sessions shared their impressions, and it seems the song isn't particularly fresh or clever. It has a somewhat mediocre quality, typical of a boy group song. With the instrumentation hinting at guitar, saxophone, and then drums, one wonders if these elements will mesh well, but given how things went with "Talk That Talk," the producer is likely to cram in whatever they want.
: There was some commotion in the community regarding the "Emergency Room" sampling. Recently, a user on various forums, including Theqoo, started summarizing all episodes of Sassy Girl Chun-hyang with screenshots, and it was suspicious that this coincided with the teaser for the new song from RIIZE after the final episode was uploaded. This led to speculation that it might be a form of viral marketing.
: While the user claimed to be wronged, simply denying the allegations doesn't resolve the suspicions. Moreover, there’s evidence that since mid-December, multiple communities have simultaneously posted about "The Legendary Bunch" being a drama that became a hit after being a filler program, which adds to the intrigue.
: There are already indications related to SM's viral marketing companies that suggest this could be something initiated by the company itself. If they’re not spreading negative virality or false rumors, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. However, the methods and material selection do give off a bit of a small to mid-sized company vibe.
: What’s become clear with this single is that RIIZE is definitely not a group that appeals to teenagers right now. On the HYBE side, it seems crucial to focus on this aspect more than other issues, assessing how TWS can lead the teenage market and how BND can capture the 20s market. RIIZE is not like TVXQ; they’re banking on nostalgia from those who remember K-entertainment from before, so even if the core fanbase is low, they should realistically be looking at the late 20s. Ultimately, RIIZE's rivals can only be groups like NCT 127. Before SM adjusts this aspect, it’s essential for HYBE labels to aggressively solidify their positions in the first half of the year to clearly capture the main target audience.
Seventeen
: The Saint Laurent fashion show was a major turning point. The perception of Jeonghan went from being seen as a “pretty member” to comparisons with Asian Timothee Chalamet, with online community reactions becoming more specific and visible. His attitude on-site was more natural than expected, and it’s thought that expanding his presence in photoshoots and continuing to develop this image could be beneficial, particularly for extending his influence in Japan.
: There seems to be noticeable interest in Jeonghan, as Sojang recently released a paid, members-only video about him. Toward the end of last year, communities saw a surge of individuals persistently attacking Seventeen by highlighting various controversies. This may have inspired the recent video, possibly compiling those previous discussions. Some users on Twitter have been mixing Jeonghan’s in-game persona with his real-life character, portraying him as cunning and selfish, likely influencing how others view him. The disturbing part is that before releasing the video about Jeonghan, Sojang ran a poll in the community asking who the most popular Seventeen member was. It seems they were gauging which member was most talked about before deciding to release a video about him, hinting at a more calculated approach.
Members reaveal
:After the end-of-month evaluation videos were released, Baby Monster has been posting individual member reveal videos on their account.
: While there's naturally a strong interest from overseas K-pop fandoms, the viewership domestically has been surprisingly low. The channel has already surpassed 930,000 subscribers, and the first member introduction video is over 6 million views.
: The first member revealed was the Japanese member Luka, but it seems his star quality in terms of looks is lacking. The second member introduced is the Thai member Pharita. Ideally, she should have showcased a confident idol type from the start, but the order of introductions feels a bit odd. It seems they’re heavily relying on targeting overseas fandoms.
: The videos themselves also have some issues. While they must be aware of the negative reactions surrounding Yang Hyunsuk, it feels like his presence is overly pronounced in the videos. This isn't a debut team introduction but rather a briefing on the individual members, yet Yang Hyunsuk's role feels excessive. They wanted to portray the members' dancing skills by bringing in Lee Jung, but showcasing Yang Hyunsuk's leadership in this way comes off more as a complex reflection than anything else. Furthermore, the overall video feels quite outdated. The font for subtitles, the editing flow—it gives off a vibe reminiscent of SBS variety shows from a few years ago, which doesn't really convey a sense of being hip or hot. It feels like the production team has been stuck in a rut for a long time.
BABYMONSTER
Members reveal
: The Korean member Rola and the Japanese member Asa have been introduced. Asa was apparently cast as an elementary school student, and her Korean accent and manner of speaking are surprisingly natural, which has become a topic of discussion. This suggests that she's not managing to draw interest in other ways.
: While there have been comments about her looking like a rich girl or having a refined appearance, this kind of appeal is overshadowed by NewJeans, which has set a high bar for this type of image in the past year. Overall, the members give off a pleasantly natural vibe, but there’s a noticeable lack of standout looks, making it hard for the community to find anything particularly engaging about this group.
: There are some similarities to the trends seen with NMIXX, which raises suspicion about the business decisions behind BABYMONSTER. While there may be commercial motivations at play, Yang Hyunsuk's opinions are being excessively highlighted. It makes one wonder if becoming a father has influenced how figures like Park Jinyoung and Yang Hyunsuk perceive the beauty standards of female idols. It seems like they haven’t been able to find standout center candidates, as the overall impression of the members feels quite similar.
BlackPinkWhereabouts
(comment on whereabouts
ZEROBASEONE
Whereabouts
(comment on whereabouts)
ZEROBASEONE
Teaser
: The trailer video seems to have been released about a week ago, with around 1.28 million views. The narration, video composition, and editing feel like they’ve borrowed heavily from various sources, and even within its own setup, the scenes don’t connect well. Fans tend to exaggerate their reactions, but I'm curious how long they can keep deceiving themselves, especially since the team coming out in July isn’t just ZB1.
:he reality show has a camping concept, and the actual broadcast is on Thursdays, but a few preview videos have been released. Honestly, it’s just not very entertaining. Even with Wanna One, the members had a somewhat awkward atmosphere, and it seems this team is no different. In contrast, teams like BND, which have had a solid practice period together, should showcase their teamwork and assert their superiority more.
:They will appear as a full group on <Amazing Satruday>. I wonder how the foreign members will fit in since several of them are key members.
IVE
Hero
: Externally, the company's reputation had significantly declined, and internally, there were complaints about neglecting the members' mental health and mismanaging hate comments while focusing efforts elsewhere. In response, Starship introduced a strategy that could confront these issues head-on.
: They traced the identity of Sojang and proceeded with legal action. During the investigation, a sudden hacking incident led to the deletion of videos from the channel, causing complications, but they released a statement emphasizing their commitment to holding those responsible accountable. They are also tracking down other cyber wreckers.
: Of course, it’s something that can be done if there’s enough money and will, which led to questions about why HYBE remained passive. Given that there was mention of V in the apology statement released during the controversy, some speculate that HYBE initiated legal action but didn’t make any public announcements. It seems Starship aimed to take advantage of this chaos.
: By involving both LE SSERAFIM and NewJeans, it appears that the Kakao-Starship line has managed to change the perception among HYBE's fandom, which had viewed them negatively. However, the core issue is that this scenario may not translate into direct benefits for the artists involved.
Seventeen (mentioned above)
RIIZE (mentioned above)
BTS
Contract re-renewal
: Despite not being in a full group activity period, the news of the re-signing contract has shocked fans both inside and outside the fandom. It serves as proof that there is a concrete plan for the full group in 2025, and there's also a sense of fear about HYBE maintaining its position as a powerful IP for an extended period.
: As a result, there have been quite a few posts denying the reality that the push for re-signing is merely a resolution of the board and not an agreement from the members, suggesting that it’s an attempt to pressure the members. In response, RM even posted the contract on Instagram, seemingly aware of the situation, while some individuals appear intent on continuing the public relations battle.
V
: The Tiny Desk video filmed by the Korea team has been uploaded to the NPR channel. It doesn't seem like Tiny Desk Korea videos are usually shared here, so I wondered if it was just a special case for V's video. Since this album isn't strong enough for a live performance to compete on stage, creating and releasing a beautifully edited live video isn't necessarily a bad choice.
: On the other hand, I felt that the promotional video for the Gangneung live performance needs a review regarding the risks involved. The concept involves a man in a bear costume randomly convincing ordinary citizens he encounters at a tourist spot to watch V's live performance for 20 seconds. This approach doesn't consider the perspectives of those involved in various ways.
: It's not easy for ordinary citizens, especially women, to participate in an unknown setting with strangers, and there are even foreign individuals in the video who flee. The planning fails to account for the psychological resistance of modern women, making it a controversial concept. There's also a concern that similar setups could lead to criminal incidents disguised as fake filming. Furthermore, it's hard to accept that these guests were only shown a mere 20 seconds of live performance. If it were a fan event, it might be understandable, but in a project involving random civilians, this kind of development implies a "chance to meet a star" attitude, which is unlikely to yield positive reactions. In fact, there are moments in the video where staff seem to be prompting the audience for reactions, saying things like, "It was really V." If you're taking people's time, it's only natural to show a proper stage. The idea of "breaking it up in the middle could be fun" comes off as childish.
: Initially, fans mentioned it was cute in passing, but a few days later, a critical post gained traction on Theqoo, surpassing a thousand likes, with most responses being negative. Honestly, if the album reaction for V were ambiguous, it might not have escalated, but if it were Jungkook, it could have sparked a major controversy.
VCHA
Debut
:They’ve been cranking out episodes and have already decided on the final debut group, released a music video, and appeared on music shows. The group consists of six members: one from Canada, one Korean-American, and four Americans. While their nationality is American, it seems to include Hispanic and Vietnamese mixed backgrounds.
:The issue isn't about who was chosen, but rather what they plan to do with these selected members. After watching their music show performances, it feels quite disheartening. The success of NiziU seems to have backfired on this company. They randomly selected members from various nationalities and seem to think that if they just make them do cute things like JYP used to, fans will automatically love them. It gives off a frustratingly amateurish vibe in terms of training. Honestly, their skill level resembles that of a team that might win a spot in a foreigner talent show organized by a Korean language school.
:Moreover, the title track is called "Y.O. Universe," which is a shockingly juvenile title that even NMIXX wouldn’t adopt for their global team. Naturally, all three songs on the debut album were produced directly by JYP. It seems that K-pop fans watching this group from abroad would have some aspirations for what they would want to do as K-pop idols, but the quality here doesn't even reach that level.
:The music video is also shockingly one-dimensional; it features a member dreaming of becoming an idol participating in an audition. This scene is judged by three foreign judges. It’s puzzling that Park Jin-oung would be the sole judge to pick members, leading to questions about the authenticity of this process. One of the judges is cast as a man resembling Simon Cowell, which adds to the excessive clumsiness of the overall setup.
TripleS
:They released a choreography video for the track New Look,' which features 16 members. At some point, they completely abandoned the exploratory approach of 'the original NewJeans' and instead adopted a vague mix of early Showa era and Japanese idol vibes. This choreography video especially reflects that. It’s been marketed as a 'mega crew' performance and have been mediaplaying about it since the overseas tour, but it seems questionable if merely having a lot of members qualifies it as 'mega crew,' considering the choreography appears quite awkward. It's hard to see the members’ styling or practice level as anything above a university club level.
: It seems that this is subtly aligning more and more with the target preferences of the team, making it increasingly uncomfortable to watch. Even if it’s a project marketed alongside incel fans, QWER managed to shed its hand-sync reputation by finally performing live at the World Championship pre-show, bringing a storyline of "growth." In contrast, this team feels like a cheap catalog project, relying on a large number of young girls to hold their ground.
: There was a period of holding on due to the aftershocks of "Tomboy" hitting big, and the teaser gives off the impression that the producers are somewhat aware of that precariousness. The trailer is shot like a makeup brand seasonal commercial, but the focus on "intensity!" has somewhat overshadowed the members. It makes me realize just how well aespa managed to balance these aspects, as this side feels a bit off-kilter. The members have their faces heavily marked with vertical writing like a tattoo, and apparently, the company even asked them to take photo cards in that makeup state. There’s a story that they were horrified and refused when it came up in a bubble chat. At least (G)I-DLE had Jeon Soyeon and the members' determination on their side, while the company seems clueless about what this team is doing.
: Up until the video, there was a vibe of "they’re trying to do something," but the public responses has worsened with the photos. The first photo teaser isn’t a reinterpretation of 2NE1; it’s just cosplay-like styling. The second teaser features members in a snowfield set, wearing fur hats, fur boots, and crystal bikinis, which seemed a bit cliché. There were criticisms that the styling details and poses matched those from overseas shopping mall photos exactly. So while it’s a common concept, if the details align this closely, it raises plagiarism concerns, sparking debates in the community. Then, aside from the plagiarism issue, questions arose about why the members were photographed so scantily dressed in winter settings. It feels contradictory for a team that promotes confident female characters to continuously display extremely thin bodies and encourage exposure.
: The situation is compounded by the fact that while "Queencard" succeeded, it didn’t resolve the underlying issues that have festered internally, creating a sense that this crisis will continue to be a thorn in their side. And it's not as if Jeon Soyeon magically solved her contradictions in this album either.
1. At this point, Sojang was ordering HYBE what to say about each artist?
2. Ah they sound like a cult
3. Wow what is this...
4. They mention BlackPink so often
5. HYBE flop
6. This is the level of hate comments ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹
7. Is this the level of analysis a "leading K-pop company" should be doing?? This is miserable..
8. The things said about NMIXX infuriates me
9. Seriously I'm an NSWER and NMIXX's part pissed me off so much ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹
10. I'm skipping everything coming from HYBE now~
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