As remarks pointing out that the new tracklist of the group KATSEYE resembles “ARIRANG” by the group BTS appear, it is extending into a debate on the “self-replication” of HYBE‘s creations.
After the tracklist for KATSEYE‘s third mini-album “WILD” was revealed, animated discussions are ongoing on social media as of August 1, after the issue of design similarity was raised mainly by fans of BTS.
The part on which fans focused their attention is the color composition using black and red. Both tracklists arranged several layers of red bands on a single-color background where one feels the texture, and wrote the names of the songs in black letters. Remarks appeared according to which the font style with few decorations and the manner of listing the song titles are also similar.
BTS revealed the tracklist for its 5th studio album “ARIRANG” last March. The design where the red bands on which the names of the songs are written overlap and continue was used as the representative image of the album. “ARIRANG” was published on last March 20 and 14 songs such as “Body to body”, “Hooligan”, “Aliens”, “Swim”, “Normal” are included in it.
As the two images were compared side by side online, some fans of BTS raised questions regarding the originality of the production team. A netizen criticized: ““I said that 6 months later everyone would end up using a concept similar to “ARIRANG”, and that is indeed what happened.”” Reactions criticizing the company and the production team that planned KATSEYE‘s album constituted the majority.
KATSEYE and BTS are not groups directly attached to the same company. KATSEYE belongs to HYBE X GEFFEN RECORDS, a joint company established by HYBE and the American record label Geffen Records, and BTS belongs to BIG HIT MUSIC under the umbrella of HYBE. However, to the extent that both groups find themselves inside the HYBE system, fans’ criticisms were directed toward the management style of creations.
Some fans also expressed the opinion that, as it was produced within the HYBE group, design elements could have been shared intentionally. Reactions also opposed the fact that it is difficult to decide on the question of plagiarism solely through red, black, and the band-shaped layout.
“WILD” by KATSEYE is an album showing their free and unrestrained appearance through growth and change.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: SNS BTS, KASEYE
