SHINee's Taemin recently found himself at the center of controversy when accusations of plagiarism surfaced, claiming that his work had copied elements from BTS' Jimin. These allegations have sparked significant discussion among fans and the general public, particularly due to the popularity and distinct styles of both artists.
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On August 16, 2024, Taemin's new music video for his song, Sexy in the Air's teaser was released on YouTube. K-pop fans noticed similarities between this music video and the music videos for Jimin's Like Crazy and Set Me Free Pt. 2. Hence, the internet was left divided over whether Taemin drew inspiration from the BTS member's work and style.
Fans who came in support of both artists commented on their thoughts on social media.
"Jimin HAS said that he's inspired by Taemin and armys claiming taemin is copying him like," a fan claimed.
"On this album alone taemin is credited for composing all the songs on the album and writing two of them. It's a literal fact jimin is inspired by taemin (said jm himself). Take it up with him if ur gonna get upset abt it," a fan exclaimed.
"Saying this about Taemin is hilarious because he's literally labeled as "The Idol's Idol." You're saying nobody knows him but even non kpop fans know him and jm grew up watching him so where do we go from here? Stop trying to compare them and put them against each other," another fan claimed.
Some other fans wrote more words about the negativity surrounding this comparison.
"Unlike u miserable people when I see tm and jm have similar visuals/concepts I start vibrating at the speed of light," a fan expressed, liking the similarities in the works of the two artists.
"Y'all do know that taemin is literally one of Jimin's fav idols and is inspired by him right… like cut the cameras," a fan said.
"Youre all weird for pitting tm and jm against each other like they wouldnt be texting each other laughing at all of you since theyve been friends for the last decade," another fan expressed.
Jimin and Taemin are in the middle of a plagiarism controvery
Taemin's highly anticipated 5th solo mini-album, ETERNAL, is set to be officially released on August 19, 2024. The album features two title tracks, Sexy in the Air and Horizon. Of these, Sexy in the Air's teaser was released on August 16, immediately sparking controversy and allegations of plagiarism among netizens.
The controversy arose when some listeners began drawing comparisons between Taemin and BTS' Jimin, two artists known for their mutual admiration. The BTS member has often cited Taemin, a senior in the industry, as an inspiration. Therefore, the accusations caught many by surprise, given the positive relationship between the two artists.
Critics on the internet pointed out that certain elements in Taemin's new music video, such as his background dancers lifting him, seemed reminiscent of the opening scene in Jimin's Set Me Free Pt. 2. They also noted a holographic scene in Taemin's video that appeared similar to one in Jimin's Like Crazy. Some fans also claimed that Taemin's fashion choices in the music video resembled his hoobae's (meaning junior) style in the Who music video.
In response, Taemin's fans quickly rallied to his defense, countering the plagiarism accusations by highlighting instances where they believed Jimin had drawn inspiration from Taemin's previous works. They pointed to similarities between Like Crazy and Taemin's earlier tracks, such as 2 KIDS, Advice, Criminal, and WANT. Fans also shared images they felt demonstrated how the BTS member's concepts echo what his senior explored in the past.
However, there were also voices within the fan community advocating for a more balanced perspective. These fans defended both artists, emphasizing the close bond between them and arguing that it was inappropriate to pit them against each other. They stressed that the artists are unique and have distinct styles and should be appreciated for their contributions to the music industry.
