The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
《Lee Min-kyung's Siren》
Lee Min-kyung from TenAsia sounds the alarm on the rapidly evolving entertainment industry, highlighting unseen issues and alerting to threats and changes surrounding the entertainment world.

Beyond mere 'lookalikes', the phenomenon of 'K-Pop counterfeits' is increasingly threatening the identity of artists. The use of similar faces and deepfake technology is causing confusion among the public and damaging the commercial value of artists, drawing widespread criticism.
The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
Recently, at BLACKPINK Rosé's official pop-up store event in Chengdu, China, influencer Daisy, known for resembling Rosé, was invited, sparking controversy. Although Rosé was the event's main attraction, the local host introduced Daisy as if she were the star.

Daisy took photos with fans and even held an impromptu signing session. Once this was revealed, criticism arose about the confusion and discomfort caused to attendees. Some labeled it as "blatant free-riding on the artist's image." Despite Daisy's explanation that she was merely following a shopping mall invitation without any financial compensation, negative perceptions persist.
The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
There have also been attempts to commercially exploit entire groups. In 2022, the Chinese group 'ESO' faced backlash for imitating EXO's name and styling. Members adopted names like 'Luha' and 'Huang Zicheng', mimicking former EXO members Luhan and Huang Zitao, respectively. Another member, imitating EXO's Lay (Zhang Yixing), was named 'Zhang Yixi'. These names were slight distortions of the actual members' names.

Due to intense criticism, the group ceased activities in 2022, but individual members continued to mimic EXO members. Last year, the 'real' Luhan publicly addressed the issue. During a live broadcast, he expressed frustration over fans questioning his identity and mentioned the influencer mimicking him. In response, Ling Dale, who performed as Luha in ESO, appeared on the broadcast, sending a gift worth approximately 1.3 million Korean won, which drew sarcastic reactions from netizens, suggesting it was a 'copycat tax'.
The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
The issue of 'digital counterfeits' created using artificial intelligence is also concerning. A Chinese woman replicated singer IU's facial features using technology and became a beauty creator on platforms like TikTok and its Chinese counterpart, Douyin. Her striking resemblance to IU earned her the nickname 'Chaiyu' (China + IU). However, when a filter malfunctioned during a broadcast, revealing her AI-altered face, she faced significant backlash.
The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
There have been instances of impersonating famous figures to deceive international media. In 2013, during the Cannes Film Festival, a 'fake Psy' attended VIP parties, indulging in expensive drinks and deceiving even Hollywood stars like Naomie Harris. The real Psy humorously addressed the situation on social media, stating he was in Singapore.

While 'celebrity lookalike' activities were once limited to parody or fan admiration, they now exploit the uniqueness of actual artists for economic gain. This not only confuses the public but also infringes on the intellectual property (IP) of K-Pop artists.
The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
The Rise of 'K-Pop Counterfeits': Threatening Artist Identity and Intellectual Property
Hollywood stars face even greater challenges from the overreach of 'counterfeits'. These activities not only leverage artists' images for popularity but also damage their reputations.

Pop star Ariana Grande is a notable victim. American TikTok star Paige Niemann gained over 10 million followers by acting as Ariana Grande's doppelgänger. Beyond mere cosplay, she lip-synced lines from Ariana's past TV character (Cat Valentine) and mimicked styles from the recent 'Wicked' movie series, behaving as if she were the real Ariana Grande. Ariana herself once described the mimicry of her character's lines as "bizarre" and expressed discomfort.

Paige Niemann faced further criticism for exploiting Ariana Grande's fame for financial gain. She opened an account on the adult subscription platform 'OnlyFans', using her Ariana-like appearance to generate income. Fans harshly criticized this as "monetizing and sexually exploiting the artist's image."

Lee Min-kyung, TenAsia Reporter 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr
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