'Japanese Influence Controversy' KBS 'Joseon Pop Again' "We Apologize" Ilanchi "Unaware During Performance"

'Joseon Pop Again' Team Responds to Japanese Influence Controversy: "No Intentions"

The broadcast screen where the controversy was raised
Photo by KBS 2TV 'Joseon Pop Again' broadcast screen capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Jumi Lee] KBS officially apologized for using an image similar to a Japanese castle as the background of the performance screen in 'Joseon Pop Again.' The band Dalaengi stated that they were not aware of the controversial stage background beforehand.

The production team of KBS's 'Joseon Pop Again' clarified in an official statement on the 18th, "The Dragon Palace image is a depiction of an imaginary Dragon Palace, and we clearly state that it was not intentionally copied from a Japanese castle," adding, "However, we would like to apologize to viewers who felt uncomfortable."

The production team explained, "'Yeobonari' is a song that unfolds the unfinished story from the Pansori Sugungga, portraying Byeoljubu who goes to land in search of a rabbit's liver and bids farewell to his elderly mother and wife, captured with the unique wit of the band Dalaengi."

Regarding the reason for using the image, they stated, "We conceived the 'Dragon Palace' as the background for the song 'Yeobonari,' and to realize the image of the non-existent 'Dragon Palace,' we referred to various references and animations, repeatedly deliberating to ensure a quality suitable for viewers."

The production team apologized, saying, "We are sorry for causing discomfort to the band Dalaengi, who delivered an excellent performance, due to this unexpected situation," and added, "We will delete the video and promise to make further efforts to prevent recurrence."

Meanwhile, the band Dalaengi told Asia Economy in a phone interview on the same day, "We were unaware of what kind of screen was displayed behind us during the performance."

Earlier, controversy arose online over the image used as the background for Dalaengi's 'Yeobonari' stage, which was said to resemble a Japanese castle. It was suspected that the building in the background was similar in shape to the Tenshukaku of Osaka Castle in Japan.

The KBS Lunar New Year special 'Joseon Pop Again,' aired on the 11th, is a program that features 'Joseon Pop,' a fusion of traditional Korean music with various genres. The show featured performances by the band Dalaengi, Song Ga-in, Kim Young-im, Akdan Kwangchil, and others.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.