Repeated Cultural Appropriation Backlash Hits K‑pop Idols Eight Years Apart

Fans of K‑pop are experiencing a sense of déjà vu as rookie HYBE idol Seoyeon of the five‑generation group TUIDE finds herself in the same controversy that once surrounded TWICE’s Jihyo.

Less than two weeks after TUIDE’s official debut, Seoyeon and fellow member Jia appeared on the music show Inkigayo wearing outfits that many viewers said resembled traditional Native American attire. The styling quickly attracted accusations of cultural appropriation.

The backlash mirrors an incident from 2018, when TWICE’s leader Jihyo wore a Native American “costume” at the ONCE Halloween fanmeeting. She introduced herself as “Indian Jihyo” and later mimicked a war cry, prompting similar criticism.

Although the two events are eight years apart, fans immediately linked them, describing the newer episode as a repeat of the earlier controversy. Netizens across both cases condemned the idols for what they saw as racist mockery.

Neither JYP Entertainment nor HYBE and TUIDE’s sub‑label ABD have issued an apology or public comment about the respective controversies.

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