The group IVE has become embroiled in an 'anti-Japanese' controversy over their new album trailer, and the video director has stated his position.
OUI, the director from New Year who produced the trailer video for IVE's fourth mini album 'IVE SECRET', posted on his social media account, "To express the concept of an evil cupid that disrupts lovers' love, it was necessary to depict the burning of a paper crane, which is a medium of love."
He added, "There is no other meaning at all. Peace."
According to reports from Japanese media such as Women's Self on the 12th, some Japanese netizens raised 'anti-Japanese' suspicions regarding the video of 'Secret, Cupid', which was released on the 8th.
They pointed out that the trailer's release date was one day before the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, that Japanese member Rei wore clothes with the words 'I'm Sorry', and that a paper crane symbolizing peace between Japan and Korea appeared and burned, claiming, "Isn't this expressing anti-Japanese sentiment?"
In particular, YouTubers with anti-Korean sentiments supported these claims, leading some netizens to leave negative comments on the trailer video. In response to these claims, domestic netizens countered, "In Korea, a paper crane symbolizes love," and "The clothes worn by the Japanese member are just from a brand named 'I'm Sorry'."
Currently, the trailer video has received over 19,000 comments.
Meanwhile, IVE will release their fourth mini album 'IVE SECRET' on the 25th and will begin full-fledged comeback activities with the title track 'XOXZ'.
[Kim Mi-ji, Star Today Reporter]
