SM Entertainment, which is one of the biggest entertainment companies in South Korea, will be debuting a British boy group called Dear Alice later this year. The boy group will undergo the rigorous K-pop trainee system, and the innovation of this project aims to blend Western pop sensibilities with the high energy of K-pop.
As unique and new as it sounds, some K-Pop fans, especially those whose bias groups are from SM Entertainment, are not really into the idea of this project. Here are a few reasons that cause fans’ disappointment:
1. Deprioritising their other idols
Seunghan (승한), a member of SM Entertainment’s boy group RIIZE (라이즈), is on a long-term hiatus due to a past dating scandal, causing frustration among fans who view the punishment as unfair. Fans criticised SM Entertainment for debuting Dear Alice instead of addressing Seunghan’s situation. They believe the company should prioritise resolving issues with current artists before launching new projects.
2. Lack of Representation and Diversity
Fans also expressed their disappointment over the lack of representation of people of colour in the group. When envisioning a British boy band, they expected more diversity than a group composed solely of Caucasian men. This lack of diversity has led to criticism of SM Entertainment, with many arguing that the group does not reflect the multicultural reality of Britain.
3. One Direction ‘Wannabes’
As a British boy group, it’s no surprise that comparisons with the UK’s most popular boy band, One Direction, would surface. Fans accused SM Entertainment of trying to replicate One Direction’s success rather than creating a unique identity for Dear Alice. This criticism highlighted concerns that the new group may struggle to distinguish their own brand and innovate within the music industry.
However, there were also users who showed support for the group, stating that they do not see any problem with debuting white men under a Korean entertainment company as long as they perform and sing in English. They argued that talent and performance quality should be considered over ethnic background and that Dear Alice has the potential to succeed if they deliver impressive music and performances.
What do you think about their debut?
Alia contributed to this article.
