K-pop stars face backlash for attending Kanye West's Korea concert amid controversy over his past

K-pop artists, including members of NewJeans, aespa, and 2NE1, are facing criticism from fans after attending Kanye West's concert in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Friday. The event, titled "Ye x Ty Dolla Sign Vultures Listening Experience," marked West's first appearance in Korea in 14 years. The rapper, who now goes by the name Ye, previously visited Korea in 2010 for the "Summer Week & T" hip-hop festival.

The backlash began when online posts surfaced criticizing the presence of NewJeans members Minji, Hanni, and Danielle at the concert. Notably, underage members Hyein and Haerin did not attend. Fans questioned whether the group was aware of West's controversial history, including his 2016 song "Famous," which featured lyrics criticized as sexually harassing towards Taylor Swift, and his 2022 comments praising Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.

Other K-pop celebrities at the concert, including aespa members Winter and Giselle, Red Velvet's Seulgi, 2NE1 members CL and Minzy, and solo singer Jeon So-mi, also faced criticism. Some fans defended the artists, suggesting they may have attended due to the high-profile nature of the event. "Maybe they just went because it was a famous singer's concert," one fan commented. Another added, "We should separate personal controversy from their work of art."

Initially promoted as a listening party, West's concert turned into a surprise two-and-a-half-hour live performance, featuring 74 songs, including hits like "Stronger" and "Good Life." The event, which attracted 35,000 fans, marked West's first live performance since July 2022.