Girl group HYBE on the rise KATEYE is under fire as fans accuse the members of making racially insensitive comments during a recent anecdote shared by Yoonchae in a solo live stream.
The issue erupted after Yoonchae shared a seemingly innocent story regarding her struggle to understand the word “lottery.” As he passed a glittering shop at an airport, he asked his colleagues what “lottery” meant, only to be met with confusion and a controversial answer.
According to Yoonchae, Daniela appeared surprised by his question. But it was Sophia’s comment that triggered the negative reaction: “He probably knows if you say it with a Korean accent.”
He laughed, adding that another member then said the word “lottery” with a Konglish (Korean-English) pronunciation, which ultimately helped Yoonchae recognize it as the English version of “lotto.”
While Yoonchae appeared to share the moment with good humor, a growing number of viewers felt the joke had crossed the line, perceiving it as a mockery of his English skills and, more seriously, bordering on racist.
On platforms like X and TikTok, fans are torn. Some defend the members, saying it was an inside joke and that Konglish is commonly mentioned in a light-hearted manner among K-Pop idols.
Others, however, argue that such comments perpetuate subtle xenophobia within multicultural groups, especially when directed at a fellow non-native English speaker like Yoonchae.
One user wrote: “It’s always the Korean line that mocks global members until it’s too late.”
Another added: “Mocking someone’s accent is just not right, especially in a global group that aims to promote inclusion.”
This incident has reopened current concerns about the internal dynamics of multinational K-Pop groups, especially under large labels like HYBE, where cultural differences can easily become flashpoints.
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Sources: Koreaboo
