Before attaining their current level of global fame, BTS overcame significant challenges, including the heavy debts of their management company. Their popularity began to surge in South Korea around 2016, particularly following the success of their hit song “Spring Day,”which has since set numerous digital music records in the nation.
During their initial rise, BTS encountered various accusations of plagiarism directed at them from established groups. Early comparisons often involved iconic artists like BIGBANG, EXO, and SHINee. Recently, fresh allegations have resurfaced, suggesting that BTS may have plagiarized BIGBANG, with claims dating back close to a decade.
The specific accusation centers around the song “Spring Day” from their 2016 album, which is claimed to bear similarities in melody, harmony, and instrumental arrangement to BIGBANG’s “Feeling” from the 2012 album “Special Edition Still Alive.”Many users on social media and K-pop forums have revisited these tracks, conducting detailed comparisons and asserting that BTS drew inspiration from BIGBANG. This sentiment is particularly strong among Korean netizens on platforms like X, who argue that the two songs share a considerable resemblance.
In contrast, BTS’s dedicated fanbase, known as ARMY, has vehemently defended the group against these allegations. Fans argue that melodic similarities are common across the music industry and stress that plagiarism claims should be grounded in substantial evidence rather than mere subjective impressions.
Nonetheless, skepticism remains among netizens regarding this defense. Notably, this isn’t the first instance of BTS facing plagiarism claims.
This past May, a thread entitled “HYBE’s sins including BTS’s plagiarism” prompted considerable discussion on the Korean forum “theqoo.”
In response to such controversies, BTS’s official Twitter (now X) account denied any wrongdoing back in 2014, stating, “We have always been serious about music and plan to continue doing so in the future. Please trust and continue to watch over us, and we will deliver all the good music that your heart desires.”
However, they later acknowledged a separate incident of lyrical plagiarism in 2015, as referenced in various discussions on the topic. In 2018, a concert video further depicted BTS as victims of false allegations, allegedly manipulating their fanbase into believing that the group had committed no wrongdoing.
Reflecting on these events, a contributor to the forum noted, “The video featured acronyms such as ‘Plagiarism Boys’ and ‘Chart Manipulation.’ During that time, users in this community discussed the chart manipulation allegations while acknowledging that BTS had indeed confessed to plagiarism. It’s hard to believe that Big Hit (now HYBE) wasn’t aware of the situation and yet continued to present this content during a concert that stoked fans’ frustrations and anger.”
In light of the controversies surrounding HYBE, the entity that evolved from Big Hit and propelled BTS into international stardom, the scrutiny over allegations of plagiarism is intensifying, attracting further mockery.
Here are some reactions from netizens:
- It’s said that BTS’s song sounds remarkably like BIGBANG’s. They’re quite similar.
- The beat shows no differentiation whatsoever.
- Wait…? The beat is strikingly identical, yet this never got mentioned until now…?
- The most frustrating part is their alleged copying while failing to surpass the original.
- Oh! That explains the familiar vibe I sensed when I first played the song.
- It genuinely sounds alike, suggesting possible plagiarism.
- BIGBANG’s fans are likely aware of this. On YouTube, BTS’s video appears tagged alongside BIGBANG, leading fans searching for BIGBANG to discover BTS.
- A long-standing history of alleged plagiarism.
- This group enjoys success, so any past misdeeds have seemingly been excused. However, history often resurfaces.
Source: K14, X, theqoo
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