Min Hee Jin reveals she insisted on keeping Krystal's paper-eating scene in 'Pink Tape' when SM wanted it removed

During the recent '2024 Hyundai Card Da Vinci Motel' event, former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin shared behind-the-scenes insights from her time at SM Entertainment, including a heated discussion over a scene in f(x)’s iconic "Pink Tape" music video.

Min Hee Jin was invited as a speaker to the '2024 Hyundai Card Da Vinci Motel' event and gave a 100-minute lecture with the topic, "The Producer Who Breaks the Formula of K-Pop: Min Hee Jin's Freestyle."

During the lecture, Min Hee Jin revealed that SM Entertainment had initially requested the removal of the scene where Krystal is shown eating paper, citing concerns about the concept. However, Min Hee Jin revealed she was adamant about keeping it.

She shared, "SM asked me to cut the part where Krystal swallows the paper, but I was so frustrated, thinking, 'What do they even know?' I was so angry that I couldn’t sleep."

Ultimately, the scene was retained in the music video, adding a subtle sensuality to the kitschy aesthetic, which continues to draw attention and intrigue to this day.

Korean netizens are still divided about this matter to this day and have continued the discussion in a popular online community. They commented:

"Honestly, I didn’t think it was intentional. It was more like, ‘Why is she eating that? But it looks pretty.’"

"Putting fingers in the mouth is totally a sensual act, haha... but by having her put in paper, it gives a sensual undertone while also adding a kitschy ‘Oh, she’s swallowing paper’ kind of vibe."

"Min definitely knows how to use sexual codes, especially in a way that flirts with pedophilic aspects. Since the producer is a woman and it caters to female tastes, it seems like it gets less scrutiny."

"SM did a good job."

"This is actually something SM handled well, right? Now I see why Min Hee Jin had NewJeans do ‘Cookie.’"

"This has been talked about for a while, but now they’re brushing off critics as if they’re the ones with dirty minds? And the member was a minor at the time? HYBE really did a good job this time."

"Min Hee Jin leaving SM was the best outcome for both sides."

"If you interpreted it weirdly, blame yourself for having such a weird interpretation... absolutely pathetic."

"I loved that scene. After watching half-naked people shaking their butts, it was refreshing."

"But why is that even a problem? Something weird? The composition or whatever? Honestly, I don’t get it."

"If they don't understand, they just call it a dirty mind. I guess that's how the company might see it."

"I don't know if it was intentional, but I still don't get why she's eating paper. I don't get the sentimental aspect either."

"Isn't it because it looks like she's sucking on her fingers? In American movies, women suck their fingers when they're trying to seduce someone."

"Putting her fingers in her mouth like that must have been intentional, right? Haha, isn't that a cliché?"