NewJeans, aespa, and 2NE1 criticized for attending Kanye West's concert in South Korea
Courtesy: AFP/ POPEYE
K-pop artists who attended Kanye West's "Ye x Ty Dolla Sign Vultures Listening Experience" in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, are facing online backlash due to West's controversial history.
The concert, held at Goyang Stadium on Friday, marked West's return to Korea after 14 years.
Among those present were NewJeans members Minji, Hanni, and Danielle, as well as aespa’s Winter and Giselle, Red Velvet's Seulgi, and 2NE1's CL and Minzy.
Critics questioned whether the artists were aware of West’s past controversies, including his 2016 song "Famous" and his praise of Adolf Hitler in a 2022 interview.
Some fans defended the stars, suggesting they attended simply because of West’s prominence in the music industry. T
he concert, initially billed as a listening party, surprised the 35,000 attendees with a full live performance, West's first since 2022.