BTS cancels project with rightist producer

BTS members speak with Grammy Museum Artistic Director Scott Goldman during a sit-down interview “A Conversation with BTS” at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, Tuesday. Courtesy of Big Hit Entertainment

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Top Korean boy band BTS’ management agency Big Hit Entertainment decided to exclude the single “Bird,” written by controversial Japanese producer Yasushi Akimoto, from the group’s upcoming Japanese single. This move comes after the label faced a severe backlash from Korean fans over the act’s collaboration with the rightist producer. The problematic track will be replaced with a remix of “Idol” instead.

“The track list of the Japanese single album slated for November release has been changed due to production reasons,” Big Hit Entertainment wrote on their official fan club site late Sunday. “We apologize for any inconvenience.”

Akimoto, well known for his creation of Japan’s top idol group AKB48, is not a welcoming figure in Korea for using the Rising Sun flag in AKB48’s costumes. The flag, which is comparable to the Nazi swastika flag, is associated with Japanese imperialism and colonial rule in Korea. The high-profile producer is also notorious for writing misogynistic lyrics.

Previously, local media reported that BTS would release three Japanese songs on Nov. 7, fronted by “Bird.” The other songs will include Japanese versions of “Fake Love” and “Airplane Part 2.” The Japanese release will come before the K-pop group’s Japanese leg of its “Love Yourself” world tour and the band is scheduled to perform in Tokyo on Nov. 13 and 14, Osaka on Nov. 23 and 24, Nagoya on Jan. 12 and 13 and Fukuoka on Jan. 16 and 17.

Big Hit Entertainment founder Bang Si-hyuk arranged the K-pop group’s collaboration with the Japanese producer because he supports Akimoto’s musical perspectives, according to reports, but the agency altered the plan after facing objections from fans.

BTS’s official fan club ARMY asked the management agency to cut ties with the controversial producer and discard all related materials. “If Big Hit does not respond by 12 p.m. on Sept 14, we will boycott all of Big Hit’s content and goods,” the official fan club said.

Hanryu Love -- one of the nation’s largest online community platforms for hallyu admirers with more than 210,000 registered users -- also demanded Big Hit Entertainment sever ties with Akimoto.

It claimed the producer is a Japanese right-wing nationalist who takes pride in Japan’s imperial era and its horrific misdeeds during World War II. It also accused the producer of writing misogynistic lyrics with sexist content, objectifying female idol singers.

Some BTS fans expressed concern that this collaboration may mislead people into thinking BTS supports Japanese imperialism and link the group with Akimoto’s controversial lyrics.

“Please Big Hit, immediately stop cooperating with a misogynistic, war-crime-friendly position lyricist and discard all relevant materials,” a user nicknamed jimin enthusiast (@imnckrgrm) tweeted.

BTS’ name has already been linked with the term “right-wing” on a few Korean search engines. While Big Hit remained silent up to the deadline, fans lambasted the label. A Twitter user nicknamed @coldtang wrote: “Shouldn’t you at least tell us you’ve heard our cries and are preparing a response? You can’t even do that properly and now you want to create a leader of the global music market? Ridiculous.”

Acknowledging the severity of the problem, Big Hit posted a short statement on the official fan cafe on Saturday. “This is a notice regarding the upcoming Japanese single album. We’re fully aware of fans’ concerns regarding the Japanese single album that is scheduled to be released in November. We are currently in discussions about this matter, so we ask for more time.”

This is not the first time the label has been embroiled in controversy. Big Hit Entertainment made a public apology in 2016 for misogynistic lyrics in BTS’ songs, including “Joke” and “War of Hormone.”

“After reviewing the lyrics, we found some of them could be perceived as misogynistic, regardless of the intentions of the creator, and could make some people uncomfortable,” the label wrote on its official fan club site on July 6, 2016. “The agency and members of BTS feel apologetic towards all fans that may have been uncomfortable with any lyrics.”