Kiss of Life Issues Apology for Cultural Insensitivity in Recent Content

K-pop group Kiss of Life has issued a handwritten apology in English on their official social media channels.

On the 6th, Kiss of Life shared a heartfelt apology, stating, “We sincerely apologize for the content that has greatly disappointed our fans.” The letter was written in English and addressed to their global audience.

The members explained, “Our intention was to show how much we love old-school hip-hop, as it has greatly influenced our music. However, we realize we went too far with the concept and have acknowledged our cultural insensitivity. We take full responsibility for our actions and promise to do better.”

They further expressed, “Over the past few days, we have learned and reflected on how our actions have disappointed many. We deeply regret our choices and sincerely apologize for the pain and discomfort caused to our fans.”

The controversy arose on the 2nd of this month during a live broadcast celebrating member Julie's birthday. The group appeared in a concept styled after Black rappers, imitating speech patterns and using expressions that were perceived as mocking, leading to accusations of racial insensitivity from international fans.

Kiss of Life, who debuted in 2023, has been active with tracks such as 'Sticky,' 'Midas Touch,' 'Get Loud,' and 'Bad News.'

Reported by Yeji Ryu, TenAsia ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr