Netizen Claims NewJeans Isn't Korean— Fans FIGHT BACK!

In a thought-provoking post that emerged on the popular online community Pann on July 21, a K-netizen ignited a passionate debate surrounding the musical and conceptual identity of the rising girl group,

The Debate: Assessing NewJeans' Korean Identity in the K-pop Scene 

NewJeans. The contentious thread titled "NewJeans doesn't have anything Korean about them" quickly gained traction among netizens and industry enthusiasts alike.

The original poster raised a critical point, expressing doubts about whether NewJeans could be accurately categorized as K-pop. They contended that the group's music and concept seemingly lacked any distinctive elements representing Korean culture.

According to the post, NewJeans appeared to be merely following generic pop trends popular overseas, raising questions about their authenticity as a K-pop act.

While this assertion sparked a heated discussion, other netizens vehemently came to the defense of NewJeans, arguing against any unfair judgment on their supposed lack of Korean identity.

Leaving a slew of comments in support of the girl group, they pointed out that various other K-pop acts also incorporated non-English lyrics into their music without facing the same level of criticism.

One netizen accused the original poster of being a "keyboard patriot," insinuating that they were overly critical of domestic artists regardless of their achievements. The defender highlighted NewJeans' positive contributions to the Korean entertainment industry, citing their accomplishments, including making it onto the prestigious Billboard charts.

Another netizen claimed that the scrutiny directed at NewJeans underscored their status as a top-tier group in the industry. Despite similarities in incorporating English lyrics, NewJeans seemed to face greater scrutiny, leading this individual to argue that the public's heightened attention might reflect the group's elevated prominence.

Challenging the notion that NewJeans was simply a pop group, another commenter suggested that the group was charting a distinct musical path different from traditional pop music. This perspective indicated that NewJeans might be venturing into uncharted territory, further complicating the discussion about their genre classification.

In response to the defense of NewJeans, the original poster and other skeptics were asked to reconsider their comparison with popular K-pop acts like BTS and Baek Yerin. The defenders emphasized that both BTS and Baek Yerin were indeed classified as K-pop despite their predominantly pop-oriented music, implying that NewJeans could be rightfully embraced within the K-pop landscape as well.

Netizens React

Here are fans depensive comments on Newjeans Status:

"Anyone can see that the other groups do not speak English."

"Before you say anything about the color of our country, you are the K-pop group New Jeans, you are the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one The reality is, while you're not doing anything in the corner of your room, New Jeans is on the billboard, and you're living a life that helps Korea hundreds of times than you ha"

"All other groups have the same English lyrics, but seeing posts like this only from New Jeans, I know very well that New Jeans are one top."

" But it's not even pop, it seems to be developing in a different direction, but I don't know if this is development. After listening to it a few times, it should be familiar and good, but I can't hear it at all."

" Bangtan is also pop, and Yerin Baek is also pop?"

The debate over NewJeans' "Korean" identity continues to divide opinions among K-netizens, with some asserting that the group's lack of uniquely Korean elements questions their inclusion in the K-pop genre.

Conversely, others argue that the group's accomplishments and potential musical divergence warrant their acceptance as an integral part of the thriving K-pop phenomenon.

As the discussion unfolds on Pann, the future trajectory of NewJeans and their place in the K-pop landscape remain subjects of intrigue and contention within the ever-evolving world of South Korean music and entertainment. Only time will tell how this debate shapes the perceptions of both the group and their enthusiastic fan base. 

READ MORE: Watch: NewJeans Hyein Saves the Day on 'Music Bank'- Fans Can't Stop Talking About It! 

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Cassidy Jones wrote this.

KpopStarz owns this article.