World-famous boy band BTS is under fire as backlash develops regarding the animated trailer for “Arirang,” with accusations of racism and whitewashing coming to the fore. Critics highlight the representation of Howard University — a central site in the history of popular song — saying the depiction neglects the presence of black individuals in pivotal crowd scenes.
BTS is facing backlash ahead of the release of “Arirang” after fans accused the band’s new animated content of racism and whitewashing. The critique focuses on the trailer’s reimagining of the first known recording of the Korean folk song “Arirang” and specifically on its depiction of Howard University, the site of this historic recording.
Fans say the video marginalizes black people in a setting tied to a historically black institution, raising new concerns about representation in the project.
Controversy surrounding the release of the movie ‘Arirang’ and History of Howard University
According to Koreabo, the story of 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 states that the university was Howard University, which it describes as a historically black college/university.
The article also cites The Washington Post, which notes that in 1887, about a third of Howard University’s students were white.
The trailer itself also acknowledged possible historical inaccuracies and that it was a modern reimagining.
BTS accused of whitewashing in ‘Arirang’ trailer.
The backlash increased after fans linked the seven BTS members to the “Korean Seven” who appear in the anime trailer. The material says the video portrayed them as linked to the students who were behind the first recording, but critics focused on the crowd scene at the university.
In this sequence, “only a few blacks are seen behind the white individuals.”This detail amazed many viewers because of the history of Howard University. As the provided materials explain, the university was established to help educate former slaves, and at a time of racial inequality, it was one of the few universities that offered education to anyone. It also states that “students were also reportedly housed among Howard University teachers.Fans argue that these facts make the trailer’s visual choices more serious than a simple creative tweak. While the project portrays the video as a tribute to cultural preservation, critics say the scene trivializes the black history associated with Howard and the “Arirang” story itself. As “Arirang” approaches its release, criticism has pushed questions about race, history and representation to the center of the conversation.
