Introduction

In the wake of revelations from internal reports presented during an audit with the National Assembly, HYBE has found itself under intense scrutiny regarding its creative choices. These documents raised eyebrows with shocking claims, including a disturbing plan to 'discard' the famous girl group NewJeans while they continued promotions for their latest acts, ILLIT and LE SSERAFIM. Accompanying these plans were derogatory remarks aimed at idols from rival companies, notably Stray Kids and NCT Dream.

The Hairstyle Controversy

As discussions continue to unfold, fans and netizens have begun to draw parallels between the aesthetics of different K-Pop groups, particularly focusing on hairstyles. A post highlighting the similarities between Aespa's Winter and LE SSERAFIM’s Chaewon has gained significant traction on TheQoo forum, amassing over 30,000 views and more than 500 comments.

In this post, users noted that Winter sported a striking platinum blonde hairstyle, tinged with a subtle blue during Aespa’s 'Armageddon' promotions, which began on May 25. Fast forward several months, and LE SSERAFIM made a return with their track 'CRAZY,' introducing Chaewon sporting a strikingly similar hair color setup that echoed Winter’s look, including the blue accents. However, Chaewon added her personal twist, featuring a wavier style and more pronounced blue shades.

Chaewon herself expressed her excitement about her new hair look, stating, 'I added different colored hair extensions, and I’m really really in love with how it turned out.' But while she seemed thrilled with her appearance, the internet buzz surrounding these hair similarities has ignited a fierce debate, with many questioning the originality of HYBE's concepts following the disturbing findings of the internal documents.

Netizens’ Reactions

Comments from netizens reflect a mix of disbelief and suspicion regarding the similarities: - 'Is it really a coincidence that one member’s hairstyle overlaps so much with another specific member’s? It doesn’t seem like a reach to me.' - 'Honestly, it’s possible they might’ve copied.' - 'I think it’s true… LOL,' responded another user, emphasizing the uncanny resemblance.

Critics argue that while hairstyle variations are common in the K-Pop industry, repeated patterns between members of different groups arouse suspicion, especially under the spotlight of HYBE’s questionable internal culture. Some users pointed out that HDYBE’s ongoing reputation for potentially borrowing from other artists’ uniqueness is not unfamiliar and they need to be more cautious about their creative decisions.

Fan Divide and Conclusion

As accusations swirl, fans remain divided. Some defend HYBE, stating all artists can take inspiration from similar aesthetics. Others contend that the string of similar styling decisions feels too coincidental, highlighting a deeper issue of originality and credibility within the corporation.

In a world where image is paramount, strategies of differentiation are crucial for artists aiming to stand out. With this hallmark debate about appropriation igniting passions on social media, it remains to be seen how HYBE will address these ongoing allegations and restore its integrity in the highly competitive K-Pop market.