Latest news with #GayoDaejejeon
Pink Villa
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
'Horribly rude': aespa's NingNing and Giselle's behavior towards IVE questioned amid Karina post controversy
The controversy surrounding aespa continues to escalate. Fresh allegations now target members Ningning and Giselle for allegedly mocking IVE's Liz and Rei during previous public appearances. This follows the recent political backlash tied to Karina 's Instagram post. Since then, the group has been under intense scrutiny. Despite swift clarifications from both Karina and SM Entertainment, online criticism has not subsided. Now, aespa finds itself embroiled in a new wave of controversy, this time over alleged behavior toward fellow girl group IVE. Past moments resurface Netizens have recently resurfaced clips from major year-end music shows. They claimed that aespa members behaved insensitively toward IVE members during vulnerable moments. The first incident reportedly occurred at the 2023 Melon Music Awards, when IVE's Liz and Rei became emotional during an acceptance speech. A month later, during the 2023 Gayo Daejejeon, Ningning and Giselle were seen covering their faces in a gesture that some interpreted as mockery of IVE's previous tearful moment. Another focal point of criticism came from footage showing aespa members smiling during Rei's heartfelt speech at the MMAs. However, some fans argue it was misunderstood. Fans push back Supporters of aespa have quickly pushed back against the backlash, offering alternative perspectives. Many have pointed out that the gesture made by Ningning and Giselle occurred while singer Lee Juck's emotionally resonant song Don't Worry played. It is a track known to move audiences to tears. In this context, fans argue that the members were simply reacting to the sentimental performance and not mocking anyone. Regarding the incident involving Rei's speech, fans believe the smiles from aespa were not rooted in malice. It rather reflected warmth or empathy in response to Rie's sudden tone shift. Karina's post controversy Earlier, aespa's Karina faced backlash when she uploaded a series of photos on Instagram on May 26. The post stirred political debate. In it, Karina was seen wearing a bright red jacket with the number '2' prominently displayed. She captioned the image with a single rose emoji. While the post appeared harmless at first glance, some online users interpreted the imagery as a subtle nod to a conservative political party in South Korea. The party is said to be associated with the color red and the number 2. This led to accusations that Karina was expressing political support, triggering backlash from those who believed idols should avoid politically suggestive content. Ongoing scrutiny Despite the explanations, aespa remains under the microscope, with the recent controversies putting their public image at risk. Online discussions continue to dissect the group's behavior at past events, fueling ongoing debates across social media platforms.
Korea Herald
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Stars give back to fans in 'reverse tribute' trend
'Does being a K-pop fan put food on the table?' is a common phrase in Korea, often used to criticize fans for being overly absorbed in their favorite idols. But these days, some fans can confidently answer, yes -- sometimes it literally does. It's becoming increasingly common for K-pop stars to bring meals, coffee and small gifts for fans who show up to their events and performances. There's even a new term for it in Korea: 'Yeokjogong,' which roughly translates to "reverse tribute." While jogong — a k-pop slang term — refers to fans giving gifts to stars, yeokjogong has it reversed: stars giving back to their fans. Even industry insiders aren't sure exactly when this tradition began. Kim Hee-jin, a k-pop fan in her 30s, remembers noticing the trend around 2017. 'At first, it was coffee trucks and hand warmers,' she said. 'Then groups started handing out sandwiches, doshirak (boxed meals) and even products they were endorsing. It started with food, but then it expanded to beauty products and more. I remember when HyunA's gifts of beauty products went viral.' She was referring to HyunA's generous gifts to fans, including coffee, cardholders, luxury-brand lipsticks and puffer jackets, which became a sensation in 2019. In a 2022 interview on a YouTube channel, HyunA said, 'I feel more love when I'm giving gifts than when I'm receiving them.' 'I don't worry about the money when giving to my fans. I want to do it while I can afford it. I know I won't be earning this much forever,' she added. Another K-pop fan, Song Min-joo, 30, believes that MBC's Idol Star Athletics Championships, a TV show that debuted in 2010, played a key role in shaping this culture. 'The filming lasts all day and usually happens in gymnasiums outside Seoul. Stars began offering snacks and lunches to fans who traveled so far to support them,' Song said. 'It also gave fans an opportunity to compare what each star gave -- or didn't give.' An official from a local entertainment company explained that the cost of these gifts is usually covered by the stars themselves. 'If it's a smaller entertainment company, the artist might just hand their credit card to the manager and pay for the gifts directly. For larger agencies, it might later be calculated as part of their overall spending," the insider said. "In most cases, the artist covers the cost, but there are times when the agency splits it as well. It's hard to generalize because it varies so much." However, what started as a thoughtful gesture has recently sparked controversy. On Dec. 31, a post titled 'A summary of the currently controversial Gayo Daejejeon reverse tributes' went viral on Nate Pann, a popular online forum. The post listed the gifts that K-pop artists prepared for fans at the year-end Gayo Daejejeon music festival hosted by MBC. For example, the girl group NewJeans provided hot packs, cookies, water, doshirak (including sandwiches, inari sushi and tarts), juice and blankets. Meanwhile, boy group Stray Kids offered three kinds of fruit sandwiches, cookies, hot packs and photo cards. Those artists who did not prepare anything had a blank next to their names on the list. This detailed list made it easy for fans to compare the gifts, sparking mixed reactions. Some criticized stars who didn't offer anything, calling them inconsiderate, while others pointed out that it's not mandatory for stars to bring something for their fans. One fan commented, 'These idols make a lot of money, and their careers rely on fan support. Stars have been preparing small gifts for fans for a while now. If I were an idol, I'd want to do something for my fans to lift their spirits.' Another countered, 'Reverse tributes weren't always a thing, so why are they suddenly treated like a requirement? Sure, waiting in line all day for a performance is exhausting, but fans shouldn't expect something every time. The culture of comparison is really toxic.'
