BTS is facing backlash ahead of the release of ‘Arirang’ after fans accused the group’s new animated content of racism and whitewashing. The review focuses on the trailer’s remake of the first known recording of the Korean folk song ‘Arirang’ and specifically the portrayal of Howard University, the site of that historic recording. Fans say the video marginalizes Black people in an environment historically associated with a Black organization, raising new concerns about the project’s representation.
After ‘Arirang’ released the controversy History of Howard University
According to Korea Boo, the story behind the first recording of ‘Arirang’ dates back to the 1890s, when seven Korean students recorded the song while attending an American university, making it the first documented recording in history. The material explains that the college was Howard University, which it describes as a historically black college/university. The material also cites The Washington Post, which states that in 1887 the student population at Howard University was about a third white. Even the trailer itself acknowledged that historical accuracies were possible and that it was a modern re-creation.
BTS accused of whitewashing in ‘Arirang’ trailer
Backlash grew after fans linked the seven members of BTS to the “seven Koreans” featured in the animated trailer. The material claims that the video depicted the students behind the first recording, but critics focused on the college crowd scene. In that sequence, “only a few blacks are visible and they are behind the whites”.That detail surprised many viewers because of Howard University’s history. As the materials provided explain, the college was founded to help educate former slaves and, during the era of racial inequality, was one of the few colleges that offered education to anyone. In addition, he reported that “the students were also among the professors of Howard University.Fans argue that these events make the trailer’s visual choices more serious than a simple creative tweak. While the project frames the video as a tribute to cultural preservation, critics say the scene softens the Black history associated with Howard and the story of ‘Arirang’ itself. As ‘Arirang’ approaches its release, critics have brought questions of race, history and representation to the center of the conversation.
