The K-pop girl group NewJeans has recently come under fire with accusations of replicating the concept, album design, and fashion choices of a Mexican group by the name of “Jeans,” which has sparked significant online discussion.
However, on May 21, Korean netizens have taken a stance in defense of NewJeans against these accusations of plagiarism.
A discussion called “All idols in the world have plagiarized the Mexican group Jeans” surfaced on the Korean community website Instiz, bringing a new perspective forward. In the discussion, an argument was made that many popular artists, such as Britney Spears and Beyoncé, have historically had album covers and outfits that resemble those of Jeans.
The thread highlighted that these similarities could be attributed to the Y2K aesthetic prevalent at the time, and that tagging this similarity as “plagiarism” is quite overstretched.
Korean netizens have shared their opinions as follows:
- The whole Y2K aesthetic is what’s being replicated…
- NewJeans has just modernized the Y2K style which was ubiquitous back in the day
- These allegations are becoming increasingly absurd
- HYBE’s desperate attempts to discredit NewJeans with baseless claims are evident
- While trends are cyclical, NewJeans brought them back into the Korean spotlight
- HYBE underestimates the public’s intelligence with these allegations.
Source: PC, Instiz
FAQ Section
- What is the main issue NewJeans is being accused of?
NewJeans is being accused of copying the concept, album design, and styling of the Mexican group “Jeans”. - What was the reaction of Korean netizens to the plagiarism allegations?
Korean netizens came to the defense of NewJeans, bringing up the Y2K aesthetic and hearkening back to similar styles used by other notable artists in the past. - Is it confirmed that NewJeans plagiarized the Mexican group’s image?
No concrete evidence has been presented to confirm plagiarism; the similarities have been argued to be a part of the Y2K trend. - What is Y2K aesthetic?
Y2K aesthetic refers to the fashion, graphics, and styles that were popular around the late ’90s and early 2000s. - How has the issue of alleged copying affected NewJeans?
The impact isn’t fully measured, but it has sparked debates and defense arguments from fans and netizens against the copying allegations.
Conclusion
In concluding, the allegations against NewJeans for supposedly replicating the Mexican group Jeans have caused a stir among fans and netizens. Korean supporters particularly have raised arguments against these claims, pointing toward the Y2K aesthetic trends, which are cyclical and influential across the globe. The netizen community has shown resilience in their support, raising critical questions and citing trends as influencers rather than direct acts of copying. While the debate continues, the situation underscores the fine lines between inspiration and imitation in the creative industries, and the importance of context in such discussions.