This analysis focuses on specific scenes in the music video, sparking controversial discussions about their symbolic meaning. The film’s opening sequence, which features a pool of blood on a pure white surface and is accompanied by Japanese narration, attracted particular attention. The netizen claimed that the image was strikingly similar to the Japanese flag. Likewise, the film’s final moments, in which cherry blossoms are submerged in water while gazing upward, draw comparisons to the silhouette of Dokdo, a territory hotly contested between Japan and South Korea.
LE SSERFIM (르세라핌) UNFORGIVEN Trailer “Burning the Bridge”
These claims suggest that LE SSERAFIM’s artistic expression may have been chosen as a channel for Japanese cultural promotion, in line with the “Cool Japan” initiative, which aims to showcase Japan’s beauty on the global stage through soft power strategies.
LE SSERAFIM then grabbed attention with their performance at Coachella, where viewers were surprised by a narration in Japanese and background visuals said to be reminiscent of the rising sun flag. These developments have sparked heated discussions online, with netizens dissecting every detail for potential links to the broader geopolitical narrative.
However, as the accusations escalated, counter-arguments emerged that questioned the validity of the claims.Critics say the music video’s imagery is likened to Japanese propaganda This may be a stretch, but at the same time it is emphasized that Japanese narration has always been an integral part of LE SSERAFIM’s creative vision, which, along with English and Korean elements, reflects the diverse backgrounds of its members.
Meanwhile, Source Music, the record label that oversees LE SSERAFIM, has vowed to take strict action against malicious online content targeting the group. Despite these claims, online users remain undeterred and persist in their efforts to scrutinize past material to uncover potential missteps on HYBE’s part.
