It's been only a day following the debut and release of the first music video of the rookie girl band XUM. But it's a big surprise that these girls are already facing strong criticisms, not just in South Korea, but abroad too!
After the culturally insensible comment made against the Filipinos, Africans, and Native American culture, K-Pop enthusiasts around social networking sites demand comments in response in a clip of XUM members.
In August, A100 Entertainment revealed that NeonPunch would be disbanding following two years after its debut in the industry. (via Koreaboo)
The severity of the COVID-19 disease outbreak stopped them from handling potential operations as NeonPunch, as per the company's official statement released. Fortunately, A100 Entertainment has officially confirmed that it will reopen its activities with the name XUM for three of the group's members, Dayeon, Baekah, and Iaan.
The group launched its first music video ("DDALALA") yesterday, as COVID-19 testers forced back XUM's original launch date. However, a recording of a racially offensive discussion of the members reappeared publicly a day after.
After it was removed in May 2020, the YouTube video was subjected to discussion mentioning Dayeon, Baekah, and Iaan's DNA test to uncover ethnic groups in their ancestry, when the XUM members were still members of NeonPunch. The members forecasted each other's cultural identities before completing the exam and initiated the controversial remarks.
First, Baekah claimed that the ethnicity of Iaan in her genetic lineage must be Filipino. However, before giggling, Iaan immediately seemed to rectify her, saying, "Vietnam.
Some supporters took the comment of Iaan as an indication of cultural racism and discrimination against the Filipinos. Next, Dayeon said that she assumes Iaan has the West African DNA of Ghana.
Iaan instantly started to act humiliated, laughed, and gestured a "no" sign after learning Dayeon's comment. Iaan is identified in the subtitles as "the girl between two exceptionally white members." However, fans noticed that the difference between the tones of the members is a little distinguishable.
In a different scene, Baekah said she thinks she has African ancestry, to which Dayeon agreed. Yet, her logic offended many viewers— "because Baekah has a loud voice."
And again, the members started giggling, to which Baekah answered, "do you feel like an Indian chief? "The viewers concluded that she was referring to tribal chieftains from the Native American culture.
No wonder several fans of K-Pop were offended in the comments after seeing the resurfaced video. The acts of the members were deemed absurd, disrespectful, and blatantly discriminatory.
Many are appalled and disheartened by how XUM does not seem equipped with knowledge about other cultural differences. A100 Entertainment is asked by the audience to make an apology speech regarding the situation.
The upload has been removed from YouTube, proving the firm is knowledgeable of the uproar after the video began its run on social networking sites. But the situation is still to be responded to. (via KpopHit)
