IVE “Heya” Accused of Stealing Chinese Culture

[seolyiich]

the moment the MV began, i knew that they were taking elements from chinese culture and i was living for the concept… until i found out that it was being rebranded as a unique interpretation of korea.

even though some of their outfits COULD be interpreted as hanbok (if you squint hard enough), it’s quite obvious that the overall aesthetic of the mv and their outfits were taken from chinese elements. individually, i think you COULD say that they were an interpretation of korean culture (if you squint hard enough), but the combination of the tassel, the pipe, and the clouds make it obvious what they’re actually referencing.

truthfully, when they released this mv, i genuinely thought that they were planning a chinese debut 😭

[Savannah-]

I feel like this is an issue that's way over the heads of most western kpop fans lol. Imagine for a moment the average person born and raised in China or Korean giving their take on an argument between Russia and Kazakhstan on cultural appropriation between them.

It's OK to realize you don't have the knowledge and sit an argument out.

[songnialuvs]

i am vietnamese. Just like korea, vietnam has differentiated ourselves from china even though we took an abundance of inspiration from china. But theres many differences in vietnamese culture, just like how korea has many differences in their culture from china. But in the MV, it was very obviously it was chinese culture but the creative director took it and painted it as 'koreaness'. No korean netizen even bothered to point out that korea was originally inspired by china. The only original korean parts are the story (tiger eats the sun i think?)

[vjhqipz]

This illustrator has studied in China.Her previous works were tag“chinese panting”“chinese ink”but now she has changed the tag.They completely denied the facts.事実を完全に否認してね😂

[Bing-ltvt]

why Chinese knot turns white? And it was worn on the head? Don't Koreans have their own headdresses? copying is so ugly! It just like quoting without attribution, that's plagiarism. When I first saw that Mv, really angry!

[leastselfawarepotassium]

I just assume that every comeback ever is gonna be accused of copying everything at this stage. So tired of it.

[kdrmqyt]

As a mixed east asian myself I have to say the MV uses a lot of elements that are clearly Chinese and not Korean, but the group has been advertising their comeback as promoting Korean culture. I say the Chinese fans have the right to be angry

[wangliraul]

I'm from Singapore and my roots are in China. I know a lot about East Asian culture. I know many people don't like CCP, and I also know many people like KPOP. But this does not mean that South Korea can arbitrarily occupy the culture of other countries. Please learn to respect history and facts

[LeeSen-ghiy]

It is always said that the cultures of China and South Korea are very similar, so this MV is not a problem.I can see this statement in many disputes about Chinese and Korean cultures.
But what you need to pay attention to is Koreans often mix China's culture with theirs.
This is very cunning.They don't use 100% China culture, But sometimes they use Korean style things, and sometimes they use Chinese style things.This will confuse people and make them not know the truth.
They sometimes call this mixed style Oriental or Asian.Of course, they will still emphasize the Korean name more in it.There is nothing wrong with emphasizing Korea, but it always makes people think all the content is Korean style.

[yoon]

People need to learn history. Of course there's a lot of similarities between the two countries, but now they're two separate cultures

[elenapang]

Chinese people r open for other ethnic groups to use and appreciate Chinese culture, but admit that it's actually Chinese culture. Y'all def learned proper citations and plagiarism consequences in school and shld understand the seriousness of this issue.

[seruleanade]

hi, chinese here and im here to point out just what is going on instead of people saying “oh yall just overreacting, stop accusing people of copying”
the artist studied CHINESE paintings, with the old posts mentioning chinese ink painting and chinese painting, only to change their tune to say that “I STUDIED KOREAN TRADITIONAL ART FROM KOREAN UNIVERSITY” after they got commissioned by starship. there were also many notable pieces by the same artist that were plagiarised (eg. taking a traditional outfit design, altering it, and taking all the credit by EXHIBITING it.)
there was also this ink painting where there were tanghulus and earphones? in it which wouldnt be worse if they didnt claim it is korean culture.
the chinese knots styled on the girls is a disrespectful act as chinese knots signify peace and prosperity. not a hair accessory.
the fan rei holds in the MV is from chinese mythology, called 芭蕉扇, which is mentioned in an arc of journey to the west (西游记）
the stick-looking thing yujin holds in the mv is a tool used to smoke opium in china.
the elements in the set (from the clouds to the mountains) are all chinese inspired.
we wouldnt be this mad if they were just inspired, but they had to add that it was korean culture, so basically this anger was called for.
either way, the chinese fans are not blaming IVE, they are blaming starship. however they are currently boycotting the album just to remind starship of what they have done.

[nyxiekitsune]

A lot of these aspects are literally just Chinese. Korean culture is similar to Chinese culture, but there’s still clear differences, and this MV is just completely appropriating Chinese culture and rebranding it as Korean. Honestly just infuriating.

[yjz-ixfg]

for comments saying Korean Japanese and Chinese cultures are similar to a large extent, I have to say it is maye because you guys aren't east Asian ppl and can't distinguish the small discrepancies between these three different cultures but I believe in the ability of ppl from these three countries to recognize these differences

[SIT]

Don't go using Chinese motifs and Chinese knots just because it's pretty, and Koreans say: oh, it's so similar to us, just imagine it's from Korea. In fact you have not used such fans with patterns in your traditional festivals, but you think it's similar . and used it. Koreans may not be able to see it, but each pattern means something different to Chinese people.

[baburufireice]

Now, to understand why people are upset: it's because Koreans claim that the culture originated from them. that's why people are upset. Some celebrities even claim that the Chinese word '汉字' originated from Korea. That's why people are becoming more sensitive nowadays and want to educate them properly. Additionally, some elements in the MV aren't even used in Korea at all( particularly the Chinese button designs, golden sun bird, dudou etc. )so claiming it as Korean culture is simply wrong. The artist of the MV actually went to Beijing beforehand to learn about the culture, such as how to draw Chinese landscape painting, etc. and also has a history of learning from others and claiming their work as her own. This is evident from her copying of the T-shaped painting on silk from the Xin Zhui tomb, adding a head to it, and now asserting it as original. This behavior is highly disrespectful to the Chinese. Applying them and claiming them to be yours after learning is just wrong.

[POWPLANET]

Honestly, any ppl can feel free to use the Chinese culture whenever they want, just don't claim it as their own.

[GGGG]

Those cloud in the background called auspicious clouds (xiangyun 祥云), are the symbols of good fortune and happiness, [18] as well as a good omen of peace and the symbol of heavens.[17] Clouds designs have been used in artworks as early as the Eastern Zhou dynasty.[19] in the ancient times, auspicious clouds were of associated with deities and good fortune.[19]

[Gabrielleechanhung]

You can use Chinese culture in MV but you can’t say the Chinese culture is Korean culture

[clara-bjgy]

I am here to against Koreans’ cultural appropriation! Some Koreans nowadays are simply ‘copying’ Chinese culture without making many changes, and claim to be their own, later on they claim this culture is originated from Korean and tell everyone Chinese people are stealing their culture😅😅 This is totally cultural appropriation! A thief stole a stuff from a person and that person says that stuff is theirs and the thief starts to accuse that person a thief😅😅
Chinese people have never been mean when we are sharing Chinese culture, that is why we can see East Asian culture now! East Asian culture has similarity of course because it is originated from China and other country combined it with their own to become a more lovely culture. Japanese culture was also influenced by Chinese culture and combined with their own to become an impressive Japanese culture, and they never refuse to say that many of them are learned from Chinese! That is why Chinese people barely say Japanese elements are cultural appropriation!
Japanese people are confident with their glory culture! Korean surely has its own impressive culture, please do some research of Korean’s own cultures and spread your own culture! Be confident Koreans and stop brainwashing people with so-called Korean culture when it is now your own!
Cheers!