KTO Virtual Model Receives Backlash for Similarities With THIS SM Artist

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is an office under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and is in-charge of fostering South Korea's tourism by mainly disseminating travel information.

Last June, KTO converged with innovative technology as it pioneered a new organization ambassador that would help the office further achieve its visions. Proving what is impossible, Lizzie Yeo, the first virtual model of the Korea Tourism Organization was born. According to media reports, to bring Lizzie Yeo to life, the organization spent around $500,000 or 800 million KRW.

To provide a context, virtual humans are created by computers. This human simulation garnered more progress and popularity credit to the streaming culture, especially VTubers.

However, despite reflecting innovative technology's capabilities, netizens observed that Lizzie Yeo resembles THIS artist from SM Entertainment.

Could you guess the artist?

Lizzie Yeo's visual similarities to ...

Lizzie Yeo, functioning as KTO's virtual ambassador and a quite popular virtual influencer, is currently receiving backlash for her visual similarities to Red Velvet Irene.

With the photo above, could you guess who's who?

Know Lizzie Yeo through the YouTube video here:

Irene, being one of the exquisite and sophisticated K-pop centers and visuals, has cemented her position as one of the ancestors of Korean beauty standards. With her legendary beauty, the 'Feel My Rhythm' singer is often suggested as the "referent point" in evaluating other idols' visuals in their agency such as with aespa's center and visual, Karina.

Oftentimes, Irene goes head-to-head with Jisoo from BLACKPINK whenever fans discuss who among the third-generation K-pop stars has elevated the visual title to the next level.

THIS MIGHT INTEREST YOU: Red Velvet Irene Spotted Crying in a Restaurant - What Happened?

Undeniably, Irene provided a new flavor when it comes to Korean beauty standards. Thus, it is not surprising that Red Velvet's leader is sometimes the prototype - which is what the netizens are speculating about due to Lizzie Yeo's resemblance to her.

The pool of reactions from the fans & tourism committee

Fans are citing that aside from Red Velvet's Irene, the $500,000 virtual model also looks like singer-actress, Kwon Nara. Interestingly, some argue that the virtual ambassador is a product of Kwon Nara and Red Velvet's Irene's visuals.

Some fans even thought that Irene from Red Velvet is the new KTO ambassador due to the eerie similarities.

Here are some of the comments from the fans in the online discussion forum:

"Wait? She's virtual? I thought she is a real person!"

"I thought she's Irene. HAHA."

"Is it even legal to make a virtual human based on a real human AND have them be on commercials...?"

Additionally, upon looking at Lizzie Yeo's visual angles, a handful of fans agree that she is a combination of Red Velvet's Irene and Joy. Accordingly, fans are calling the organization to disclose their visual prototype for Lizzie Yeo.

However, some netizens have commented that if the organization is eyeing to duplicate Irene's visuals, the organization could have at least appointed her as the tourism model.

READ MORE: Red Velvet Joy Silently Cheers for Boyfriend Crush-Here's How

Above these public comments, the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee has also extended its criticism of the virtual model. Supplementarily, the committee upholds the public's sentiment that the model possesses almost the same facial features as the K-pop idol, Irene, and singer-actress Kwon Nara.

The committee also acknowledged that the virtual character is establishing "unrealistic expectations of beauty" among the MZ generation.

As of the moment, SM Entertainment has yet to release a statement in reply to this issue.

What's your opinion regarding the virtual ambassador and influencer of KTO? Do you think the resemblances are just coincidence?

KpopStarz own this article.

Sophia Carson authored this article.