What may have initially seemed like a simple mistake is now being seen by many as a troubling pattern. CULTED, a fashion media outlet with a sizable online following, is under fire once again for misidentifying female K-pop idols during major fashion events—this time, at Milan Fashion Week 2026.
K-pop’s presence on global fashion runways has skyrocketed in recent years, with stars like aespa’s Karina, NCT’s Mark Lee, actor Byun Woo Seok, and MEOVV’s Gawon making waves at high-profile shows. But amid the excitement, a now-viral blunder by CULTED has drawn sharp criticism from fans and industry watchers alike.
The controversy began when CULTED posted a video of MEOVV’s Gawon attending the Prada show—but incorrectly labeled her as aespa’s Karina, even tagging Karina’s official group account in the caption. What infuriated many fans wasn’t just the mistake, but the fact that CULTED made a nearly identical error in 2024, when it mislabeled ILLIT as NewJeans during their debut appearance at Paris Fashion Week.
Given this track record, fans are accusing the outlet of more than just sloppy journalism. Many believe the repeated mix-ups reflect a deeper issue of racial insensitivity—arguing that confusing Asian women, particularly in the same industry, contributes to harmful stereotypes. Some have even suggested that the misidentifications may be used as a deliberate strategy to boost engagement via controversy.
To date, CULTED has not issued a public correction or apology regarding either incident. This silence has only fueled frustration, as many in the K-pop community are demanding accountability and a higher standard of representation for Asian artists on the global stage.
Sources: Koreaboo
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