Hearts2hearts He found himself at the center of an unexpected online backlash following the release of teaser images designed after adhesives for vintage photographic cabins, also known as Purikura in Japan. Japanese netizen expressed anger, claiming that Korea is copying a trend that has originated in Japan.
The controversy broke out on social media shortly after the group’s teaser photos were published, with the official account that received a flood of summons and critical comments from Japanese users. Many claimed that adhesive photographic cabins are only Japanese cultural products, asking why Korean artists were using similar visual elements.
However, the Netizen Koreans quickly beat back. The popular forum Theqoo saw a wave of answers that pushed back against the statement that Korea was copying Japan. Some of the comments with the most important votes include:
- But our country also had those in the 90s. Are they kidding?
- The inferiority complex is crazy.
- Because I’m like that …
- ? But is my Unnie is an ’89 -er and did you take so many of those in her choke (elementary school) even days?
- We also took photos of stickers in Korea ~ !!!!! It appeared in the 90s, why should we copy you? Ah ha ha ha ha ha haing ah ha ha
- No but it is not from Japan …
- But is your purikura editing different from us …?
Fans argue that adhesive photographic cabins were widely used in Korea in the late 90s and the early 2000s and that their use in teaser reflects Y2K nostalgic aesthetic rather than cultural appropriation. Despite the recourse, the controversy could give Hearts2hearts More visibility than ever.
