IVE's New Music Video 'HEYA' Sparks Controversy Among Chinese Netizens Over Cultural Claims

IVE's New Music Video 'HEYA' Sparks Controversy Among Chinese Netizens Over Cultural Claims

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The music video for IVE's new song 'HEYA' is unexpectedly suffering from malicious comments from Chinese netizens.

The video, which incorporates traditional Korean elements from the stage to the costume concept, has been criticized by Chinese netizens for "stealing Chinese culture."

Starship Entertainment released a teaser video of 'HEYA,' the title track from IVE's second EP 'IVE SWITCH,' on YouTube and other official social media on the 24th. The video had garnered over 1.5 million views by 11 a.m. on the 30th.

The 17-second teaser opens with a blue scroll unfurling.

The members follow a tiger, wearing traditional Korean hats used in the shamanistic dance called 'seungmu' and outfits inspired by the 'jeogori,' a traditional Korean jacket.

They also sport 'norigae' accessories, adding to the oriental attire.

The video features traditional elements like paintings that would be seen in oriental art, fans, and norigae, all precisely placed. The depiction of a tiger surrounding the sun evokes 'The Tiger That Loved the Sun.'

IVE member An Yu-jin commented,

"It was very meaningful and fun to shoot and prepare the music video for 'HEYA' with a Korean theme.

I hope many fans, especially our global audience, will show great interest."

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However, some Chinese netizens have flooded the YouTube teaser with negative comments, accusing the group of copying Chinese style.

They claim that elements such as the ink painting illustrations, scroll, auspicious clouds, knots of the norigae, and fans all originate from China.

"The auspicious clouds relate to ancient Chinese myths, legends, and historical culture, and the scroll at the beginning is part of traditional Chinese culture and one of the oldest book forms in China," one comment read. "The hairstyles use Chinese knots, and the mountain scenes depicted on stage do not exist in Korea but only in southern China," they claimed.

Some even sarcastically thanked IVE for promoting traditional Chinese art culture, stating,

"It's clear at a glance that the entire music video is filled with Chinese culture,"

and

"These are ancient Chinese traditions that Korea has adopted. They are exploring the true essence of Chinese culture."

Furthermore, Chinese netizens have even gone as far as to target the Instagram of the artist who worked on the music video's illustrations, accusing them of stealing traditional Chinese culture due to an "inferiority complex." In response, Korean netizens have fiercely defended the video, leading to heated exchanges in the comments section.

Korean netizens responded,

"Do they feel inferior to K-pop?" "Whenever something is beautifully and uniquely made in Korea, they always insist it's Chinese,"

"While there are similarities due to being in the same cultural sphere of East Asia, each country has developed its own distinctive elements. That's why it's Korean style,"

"Even if it's 'oriental style,' why should all things oriental be considered Chinese?" "It seems they believe that other Asian nations lack culture due to Sinocentrism."

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