BTS’s new album promo video has ignited a "whitewashing" controversy.
Released on the group’s official YouTube channel on the 13th, the animated trailer for their new release 'Arirang' (ARIRANG) is based on the fact that in 1896, seven Joseon youths made the first-ever recording of 'Arirang' at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
While the video drew explosive attention, some viewers raised concerns about "whitewashing." The issue centers on a scene where Korean students sail across the ocean and sing on Howard University’s campus. Despite the university being an institution established to serve Black students, most of the animated characters appear white. In reality, Howard University was founded in 1867 after the U.S. Civil War to expand educational opportunities for Black Americans and is a historically Black university (HBCU).
International netizens criticized the trailer, saying, "It damages Howard University’s historical identity" and "It’s whitewashing, no matter how you look at it."
As BTS continues to lead the global stage, calls are growing for greater cultural sensitivity and historical accuracy.