The Netflix truth star uploaded a handwritten apology to Instagram, triggering a deep divide in reaction between Korean domestic and international supporters.
Tune Ji-a, the breakout star of Netflix’s viral courting system Single’s Inferno recognized for her glamorous style, has admitted to wearing counterfeit designer objects on the reality exhibit.
“I sincerely apologize to everyone who was disappointed and damage mainly because of me,” she said in a handwritten notice that was posted Monday on Instagram.
YouTuber and influencer Track, who is identified as Freezia on line, has a materialistic social media persona that focuses on substantial-conclude vogue and lifestyle articles. She’s element of the “geumsujeo,” or “golden spoon,” culture, which refers to a man or woman born into the top .1{362bf5cdc35eddfb2532d3c23e83b41deb229c4410d15cb1127c60150cbd4488} of the South Korean inhabitants in terms of prosperity.
Following the launch of Single’s Inferno, enthusiasts began talking about on forums whether or not some of the garments Tune wore on the exhibit — a knit Chanel symbol best (approximated $2,400), a Maritime Serre–style gown ($1,100), a pink Dior brand top rated ($600), and Van Cleef & Arpels earrings ($7,500) — showcased small discrepancies in shade, density, and sample as opposed to the genuine items.
Then Track verified the rumors with her Instagram put up.
“I apologize as soon as all over again for all the conditions that have happened thanks to infringing on designers’ creations and ignorance of copyrights,” she wrote. “As a person who has a aspiration of launching a model, I will significantly identify and reflect on the controversial parts.”
Fans have been divided in their reaction, with the frustrating the greater part of Korean-language buyers preserving that they felt deceived and misled. “It’s not ok to obtain pretend merchandise themselves… most counterfeit sellers are associated with legal organizations,” a single admirer complained. “You did a thing like this just to increase your self-esteem,” wrote yet another. “Single’s Inferno is broadcast all about the globe.”
That anger stems in component from a big cultural variance, claims Courtney Park, 25, a Korean American social media agency operator who posted a person of the to start with translations of Song’s apology and stated the circumstance on TikTok.
“South Korea has an overwhelmingly conservative culture, and the strategy of lying to people today is quite considerably bring about for outrage — in addition to supporting the counterfeit industry,” Park instructed BuzzFeed News. Furthermore the culture is extremely image mindful. “It’s not unconventional to go to a office retail outlet listed here in leggings immediately after the gymnasium, but if you ended up to do that in Korea, it would certainly affect how much provider or focus you receive in the shops,” Park reported.
Track thoroughly cultivated that materials-dependent influencer impression, the two on social media and in Single’s Inferno. “She was the most ‘bling-bling’ and fabulous,” contestant Moon Se-hoon said in the very first episode.
Opinions in English, and bigger international responses online, have skewed much more in guidance of the thrifty queen. “Wtf didn’t know people had to apologize for that,” mentioned a single person below the same Instagram apology.
Park mentioned she’s not shocked at how break up the reactions have been, divided down the center by language.
“There is a larger emphasis on wherever you shop compared to how you glance for Korean information creators,” Park stated.
One particular of the larger sized subjects of conversation among those in assistance of Track is that manner has long been an exclusionary and prohibitive marketplace, each in phrases of understanding and fiscal obtain.
Charles Gross, 26, a longtime luxury reseller and renowned manner influencer on TikTok, agrees but says there are outcomes for those in the general public eye. “There are both equally social implications and moral implications at the rear of wearing counterfeit merchandise on platforms like television,” Gross mentioned. “The value in proudly owning an authentic merchandise is that, ethically talking, you are having to pay for creative mental assets, as very well as for the ability and artistry,” he included, noting that it may well effect Song’s capability to get model offers later on in her career.
Park claims the major decline overall is the destruction of Music Ji-a’s “young, loaded and successful” model. “I assume it is humorous that some of the Korean comments I’ve read through are anxious about how the houses, like Chanel and Dior, will experience. Seriously, I really don’t imagine we really should be worrying about them,” she reported. “The controversy is far more about culture than the clothing. For Ji-a, her allure was not ever dependent on her apparel. But the clothing surely served.”