KIO'F WHAT! Aespa Plagiarism Allegations: What's So Similar About It? - A Comprehensive Summary of the Controversy

Kiss of Life's new music video for 'WHAT!' has been embroiled in a plagiarism controversy over its resemblance to aespa's 'Whiplash.' Here is a comprehensive summary of the controversy spreading, primarily among overseas fans and on Twitter.

Have you all seen this news already?! 😭 KISS OF LIFE released a special video for their new song 'WHAT!', but shortly after, a plagiarism controversy arose on Twitter and among international fans. It's really spreading fast. At first, I thought, "Nah, no way," but after watching the comparison videos myself, I kind of understand why there's so much talk about it... I'll summarize the current issues and let you know! 🔥

1. What happened?

Kiss of Life released the video for their new song 'WHAT!' It started while doing that.

KISS OF LIFE 'WHAT!' Special Video

As soon as it was revealed, among fans "Isn't this too similar to aespa's 'Whiplash'?" Reactions such as this poured in, and the overseas media outlet Koreaboo also officially covered the controversy. Rather than the melody itself Music video directing The point is that similarities are being pointed out.

키오프 WHAT! 에스파 표절 의혹, 뭐가 비슷하길래? - 논란 총정리

2. Specifically, what do you mean by similar?

A comparison post that went viral on Twitter featured a video comparing scenes from the two groups side-by-side, accompanied by a comment stating, "I was talking about the similarities in the music videos rather than the songs." The similar elements pointed out are as follows.

Pure white (white) background concept
Styling long straight hair tied in a high ponytail

Angular frame sunglasses accessories
A choreography and performance scene where a member appears to fall

A scene where the members walk past each other.

Now that I've listed them like this, I think the crux of the controversy is that it's not just one or two overlapping elements, but multiple elements overlapping simultaneously.

3. How is the fans' reaction?

From reactions like "That's seriously creepy...", "At this point, it's a bit too much to be a coincidence...", to "This is actually insane" With reactions from overseas fans saying things like this, the situation is heated both domestically and internationally. It can be said that the controversy was ignited particularly by a post that went viral, which featured a comparison video with side-by-side screenshots.

4. What kind of song is aespa's 'Whiplash'?

"Whiplash" is a hit song by aespa, and its music video garnered attention for its minimalist white-toned studio visuals and intense performance. The reason it continues to be mentioned as a point of comparison in the current controversy is also, At the time, this visual concept was so impressive I think it's because of that.

5. What is the official position so far?

As of now, it has not been confirmed that Kiss of Life's agency or aespa's agency (SM Entertainment) has released any official statement regarding this controversy. Currently, the issue is spreading spontaneously, primarily through Twitter and overseas fan communities, so we will have to wait and see if an official clarification or response is issued.

💡 Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Q. Kiss of Life WHAT! Why did the plagiarism controversy arise?
A. This is because criticism was raised on Twitter and by overseas fans that the white background, high ponytail hair, framed sunglasses, and falling scene in the special video for the new song 'WHAT!' are similar to aespa's 'Whiplash' music video.

Q. Are you saying the song itself is plagiarized?
A. No. As explicitly stated in the tweet that became a hot topic—that it was "similarities in the music video rather than the song"—this controversy is focused on the video direction and visual concept rather than the melody.

Q. Has the agency released an official statement?
A. No official statement has been confirmed yet from Kiss of Life or SM Entertainment. The controversy is currently continuing to spread, primarily within the fandom and on social media.

Q. Where did this controversy first spread?
A. It started when a post comparing the two music videos side by side went viral on Twitter, and it became more widely known after overseas media outlets such as Koreaboo covered it in official articles.