Japanese media outlets believe the hate towards LE SSERAFIM is caused by rising anti-Japanese sentiments in South Korea.

Amidst rising anti-Japanese sentiment in Korean society due to the recent incidents, foreign media outlets reported the entertainment industry is also feeling the impact.

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On May 21, 2024, Japanese media outlet JBPRESS reported that HYBE's popular girl group LE SSERAFIM, which includes Japanese members, is facing backlash from netizens fueled by these anti-Japanese sentiments.

LE SSERAFIM includes Sakura Miyawaki, formerly of the Japanese girl group KHT48, and Kazuha Nakamura, who made her entertainment debut with the girl group. Sakura, who was already a popular celebrity thanks to her work as a J-Pop idol and with IZ*ONE, contributed significantly to the group's popularity and remains one of their most popular members.

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Recently, not only Sakura but the entire group of LE SSERAFIM has been criticized as a pro-Japanese imperialism girl group.

Netizens have previously claimed that the promotional video for "Burn the Bridge," a track from LE SSERAFIM's first studio album "UNFORGIVEN," released in May last year, contained right-wing content.

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They argued that the opening scene, where red ink spreads on a white floor, references Japan's "Rising Sun" flag. Additionally, they claimed that the background of a red sunset represents the current Japanese flag. and a scene where the blue liquid is injected into a tree against the sunset symbolizes the Korean spirit (blue) being infused into Japan.

These claims circulated on the internet last year but were initially dismissed as baseless conspiracy theories.

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However, as anti-Japanese sentiment has intensified online recently, these allegations are gaining renewed attention.

Japanese media outlets reported that the YouTube comments in LE SSERAFIM's music videos are showcasing these sentiments. They called the girl group traitors, as people believed they promoted Japanese ideals despite being a K-pop group.

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Some comments read,

• "A bunch of traitor idols."
• "It's not a coincidence that they introduced the Japanese flag."
• "I can't tell if they are a K-pop or J-pop group."

LE SSERAFIM's agency, Source Music, has not commented on the hate.

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What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

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Written by Alexa Lopez