aespa's 'Drama' Teaser Sparks Plagiarism Debate with LE SSERAFIM's 'ANTIFRAGILE'
aespa's 'Drama' Teaser Sparks Plagiarism Debate with LE SSERAFIM's 'ANTIFRAGILE' (Photo: SM Entertainment/aespa X account)

In the ever-evolving world of K-pop, controversies are not uncommon. The latest to be embroiled in a plagiarism row is the "fourth-gen K-pop representative" group, aespa. As the group gears up for their comeback, they find themselves facing accusations of copying elements from LE SSERAFIM's "ANTIFRAGILE."

aespa, known for their dynamic performances and unique concepts, is set to return to the music scene in November with their fourth mini-album, "Drama." This comes after the release of their single, "Better Things," in August. The mini-album promises a collection of six tracks, including "Trick or Trick," "Don't Blink," "Hot Air Balloon," "YOLO," and "You." Fans are eagerly awaiting the album, expecting it to highlight aespa's enhanced vocal prowess.

As part of their pre-release promotions, aespa has been unveiling concept teaser photos and music video teaser clips. On October 30, they released a mood sampler, giving fans a glimpse into the overall ambiance of the upcoming album. The video showcased a dramatic transformation, with the members - Karina, Giselle, Winter, and NingNing - exuding a darker aura. Set against the backdrop of an abandoned building, the teaser also featured a narration, adding to the intrigue.

 

However, this teaser has become the center of contention. FEARNOTs, the fandom of LE SSERAFIM, were quick to point out the similarities between aespa's teaser and LE SSERAFIM's "ANTIFRAGILE," which was released in 2022. Comments flooded social media platforms with remarks like, "This is so LE SSERAFIM-coded," and "SM literally copy-pasted LE SSERAFIM's ANTIFRAGILE."

The primary points of contention were the narration in aespa's mood sampler and the concept photos set in an abandoned building. Some FEARNOTs claimed that the narration style was initiated by LE SSERAFIM. They also felt that aespa's teaser photos bore an uncanny resemblance to LE SSERAFIM's concept.

In defense, MYs (aespa's fandom) argued that LE SSERAFIM wasn't the pioneer in using narrations in music video teasers. They cited examples of other SM Entertainment groups like f(x) and NCT, who have incorporated narrations in their teasers in the past. Additionally, the "abandoned building with fire" concept has been a recurring theme in SM's artist videos, with groups like SNSD and SHINee having used similar settings.

aespa's "Drama" is slated for release on various music platforms at 2 p.m. KST on November 10. It will also be available in physical album format on the same day.