WayV, the Chinese unit of NCT, is under fire for claiming a Korean instrument is Chinese.
Recently, a live broadcast held by the WayV members on Weibo two years has resurfaced in an online community. The post that contained the video was titled "Idols who claimed that song that combines traditional Korean music is Chinese."
Keep on reading for all the details.
WayV Members Say a Korean Instrument is Chinese
In the broadcast, the members of WayV are seen talking about SuperM's song "I Can't Stand The Rain
As they discussed the song, they claimed that the track incorporated Chinese traditional music. The members noted that they could hear the Chinese instrument erhu in the song.
Kun even said, "It feels like a fusion of China with the West."
SuperM's "I Can't Stand the Rain" is a pop dance song that creates a mysterious atmosphere due to its Asian elements. The song notably makes use of the ajaeng, a Korean traditional string instrument.
The ajaeng is a wide zither with strings made of twisted silk. It is played with a stick of forsythia wood that is drawn across the strings, similar to drawing a bow.
See SuperM I Can't Stand The Rain here.
Many were upset by WayV's remarks claiming the Asian instrument used is the erhu when it is not, noting that the erhu has an entirely different shape, sound, and method of playing to the ajaeng.
The erhu is a two-stringed bowed instrument and is often considered the Chinese violin or the Chinese two-stringed fiddle. It is an alto instrument with a middle-high musical range, while the ajaeng is mainly the bass part in ensemble music.
Others also pointed out and criticized the members for thinking Asian-inspired sounds are automatically Chinese and claim that they should know better as they still promote and profit in Korea despite being a Chinese sub-unit of NCT.
Previously, the members of WayV were also slammed for posting a congratulatory message on their official Weibo accounts in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CCP).
The messages were shared just a few days after the 71st anniversary of the Korean War, which led to a backlash among Korean fans.
NCT Dream Renjun and Chenle Slammed for Posting Celebratory Messages for the 100th Anniversary of CCP
WayV is not the first NCT members to be slammed for their nationalistic tendencies.
Previously, Renjun and Chenle took to their Weibo accounts to post celebratory messages for the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China.
Due to the backlash, a Blue House petition was established banning certain Chinese idols from promoting in Korea.
ALSO READ: Blue House Petition to Ban Activities of Chinese Idols in Korea Amasses 10,000+ Signs Following NCT Dream Controversy
Renjun has received even more backlash after past comments of the idol referring to Baekdu Mountain as Changbai Mountain was resurfaced. The idol appeared on a radio show in 2019 and recommended fans visit the mountain, which is located in his hometown of Jilin, China, and eat hot spring eggs there.
ALSO READ: NCT Renjun Under Fire for Calling Baekdu Mountain as Changbai Mountain
As it is rumored that Renjun is of Korean descent despite being a Chinese national, and the fact that he studied in a Korean ethnic minority school, people believe he should show more respect for Baekdu Mountain, which reaches North Korea. He was also criticized for his thoughtless remark as a Chinese idol making money in South Korea.
What do you think of the situation?
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Written by Alexa Lewis
