K-pop¡¯s rising girl group KISS OF LIFE is gearing up for their comeback, but instead of applause, they are getting dragged, hard. The centre of the storm? Concept photos that fans of BLACKPINK¡¯s Jisoo are calling a little too familiar. Specifically, member Haneul¡¯s teaser images have people doing double-takes, and not in a good way.
Styled in a sleek black outfit with straight, long hair and full bangs, Haneul¡¯s look is drawing direct comparisons to Jisoo¡¯s visuals in her solo video earthquake. From the vibe to the accessories, fans say it is more than inspiration, it is imitation. And as the images spread, accusations of ¡°copying the final boss of visuals¡± started trending on K-pop forums.
Some fans were not having it, claiming it is disappointing to see a rookie group echo an A-lister¡¯s concept so closely. Critics feel KISS OF LIFE should be building their own identity, not borrowing someone else¡¯s. However, defenders argue that with how fast fashion cycles in K-pop, similar looks are bound to emerge.
Still, Jisoo¡¯s fans are not buying it. They say this feels less like a coincidence and more like calculated mimicry designed to gain attention.
Unfortunately for KISS OF LIFE, this is not their first dance with backlash. They are still facing heavy criticism from a recent livestream celebrating Julie¡¯s birthday. The ¡°old-school hip hop¡± theme included cornrows, Bantu knots, and oversized chains, styling choices many condemned for appropriating African-American culture.
The livestream was labelled tone-deaf by netizens, especially due to exaggerated gestures and rapping that bordered on caricature. The backlash was swift, and apologies were not enough for many viewers who felt deeply disrespected.
With both the Jisoo-inspired photo drama and the unresolved cultural appropriation issue still fresh, KISS OF LIFE¡¯s upcoming comeback is under a microscope. Whether they can recover from this double wave of criticism¡ªor if the internet will continue to hold them accountable, remains to be seen.