In the popular tvN drama “Reply 1997,” there’s a scene where fans of the groups H.O.T. and Sechs Kies, holding white and yellow balloons respectively, are shown clashing. The “official color,” which symbolized an idol group’s individuality sparked debates about overlaps as more groups emerged. In 2014, rookie girl group Sonamoo faced backlash from fans because their official color resembled that of SHINee. Similarly, in 2017, rookie group Wanna One’s logo color caused controversy for being too similar to Seventeen’s official color.
Like official colors, another symbol of an idol group’s uniqueness and identity is their fandom’s nickname, or fandom name. Fandom names, which have existed since the heyday of Seo Taiji and Boys, are one of the most important elements in the idol industry. They encapsulate the group’s worldview and the relationship between the group and its fans in a single word. With the rise of many new artists, incidents of fandom name similarities have sparked several controversies. Given that fandom names can continue to exist even after a group disbands, it’s only natural that fans are sensitive to these similarities.
On September 19th, Jennie’s side released a voice message on her official channel saying, “Hello Rubies, this is Jennie. See you soon.” This led to speculation that Jennie’s personal fandom name might be “Ruby.” However, “Ruby” was already the fandom name of Kwon Eunbi, sparking various debates over Jennie’s fandom name. Jennie’s team eventually clarified that “Ruby” was not her official fandom name, bringing the issue to a close.
While Jennie’s situation was merely a “mishap,” other groups have faced actual controversies over similar fandom names. The fandom name of rookie group KATSEYE, “iKONz,” has come under fire for being reminiscent of senior group iKON, which debuted in 2015. In response, iKON’s fandom, iKONIC, issued a statement on September 14th, demanding that KATSEYE’s agency, HYBE, change their fandom name.
Some groups have had to change their fandom names multiple times due to overlap controversies. One such group is rookie girl group ILY:1, who debuted in March. Shortly after their debut, they announced their fandom name as “Lily,” but since this overlapped with NMIXX member Lily, who debuted in 2022, it became controversial. They then changed the name to “Release,” but this name was already being used by BLACKPINK Lisa’s personal fandom, leading ILY:1 to announce on their first anniversary on the 1st that their new official fandom name would be “Glit,” after considering fans’ concerns.
With so many idol groups debuting, the most critical factor in K-pop’s success is “individuality.” As artists are required to showcase originality in various aspects, including their music, performances, and concepts, careful attention and sensitivity to avoid “overlap controversies” are becoming increasingly vital.
Source: Daum
