i-dle’s Soyeon caught in MV plagiarism row — director admits “We were inspired”

French artist Yseult accuses K-pop MV of plagiarism: “Copy-paste is disgusting”

French singer Yseult, who recently performed at the Paris 2024 Olympic closing ceremony, has publicly criticized a K-pop music video for allegedly plagiarizing her work.

The controversy centers around the music video for “DAMDADI” (담다디), a recent collaboration between producer R.Tee and i-dle’s Soyeon. Online users have pointed out striking similarities between “DAMDAMDI” and one of Yseult’s previous videos. These include nearly identical shots—such as walking down a corridor or knocking over a bookshelf—which have gone viral across platforms.

Yseult responded directly via social media, stating:

“This kind of copy-paste is disgusting. The K-pop industry has long sucked the life out of Black culture like a vampire.”

Her comment quickly gained traction, sparking widespread debate about cultural appropriation, visual originality, and the ethics of global pop industries.

Director Hong Minho, who helmed the “DAMDADI” video, acknowledged the resemblance, admitting:

“It’s true that we were inspired by Yseult’s visuals. But this is unrelated to the K-pop artist herself.”

Despite his apology, the backlash continues. The social media account that first pointed out the similarities rejected the “inspiration” defense, arguing:

“This isn’t inspiration—it’s plagiarism. Credit the source or take the video down.”

As the controversy unfolds, fans and critics alike are calling for a broader reckoning within the K-pop industry over its repeated borrowing from Black and Western aesthetics—often without proper acknowledgment.