Recently, Pentagon member Adachi Yuto has been photographed with dreads, which we believe will be his hairstyle for Pentagon's upcoming Genie:us promotions. We have also seen Jung Wooseok and Lai Guanlin with braids on a music show. This is cultural appropriation and extremely concerning for fans and non-fans alike.

We have been emailing cube as much as possible - to no response - and since Pentagon's next comeback is so close, we feel we've had no choice but to make a petition & attempt to show Cube just how damaging and hurtful such hairstyles have been and will be.

Pentagon have worked hard to rebuild their image after their August "scandal" left them with a bad reputation to the Korean general public. Having faced so much hatred and anger already, we know that Pentagon and their fans would not want to see something of the like again. If things go forward as they seem to be doing, and Yuto does have dreads for their music video and promotions, this would create a huge controversy not just within the international universe community but with international K-Pop fans in general.

We know that Pentagon want to build their careers overseas and that they have attended many international K-Con events (and will likely attend more this year), and we are concerned that if this isn't addressed they could receive an unfavourable welcome to such foreign countries.

We recognise that this issue is often difficult for Koreans to understand but we ask that Cube, Cube's Stylists, Pentagon's Management and indeed Pentagon themselves read the following letter and try to understand international fans' perspectives.

We cannot stress how damaging going ahead with this could be to the group and how hurtful it will be to Pentagon's international fans. We ask that Cube and its staff take what we are saying into account and stop this from going ahead. 

Thank you.

 

안녕하세요. 펜타곤의 해외 팬들입니다.

우리는 펜타곤 멤버들이 논란거리가 될 수 있는 머리스타일을 하게 될까봐 걱정하고 있습니다. 그래서 이 편지를 통해 아이돌이 흑인이 많이 하는 머리스타일 (드레드락/다 땋은 머리(브레이드)/콘로/등)을 할 때마다 해외 팬들 사이에서 왜 이슈가 되고, 왜 흑인 팬들이 상처를 입는지에 대해 설명하려고 합니다. 펜타곤 멤버들이 이런 스타일을 하면 많은 비난을 받게 될 거라는 점을 알아주시길 바랍니다.

힙합 컨셉을 하고 싶어하거나 그저 멋지게 보이고 싶어하는 아이돌들은 요즘 이런 머리스타일을 많이 하는 것 같습니다. 그런데 아이돌이 이런 머리스타일을 할 때마다 해외 사람들로부터 심하게 비난을 받습니다. 그 이유는 이러한 행동을 극히 모욕적이고, 불쾌하다고 여기는 사람들이 많기 때문입니다.

많은 흑인들은 이러한 머리스타일을 관리하기 어려운 머리를 쉽게 관리하기 위해, 종교나 문화 때문에, 또는 저항의 상징이기 때문에 합니다. 그럼에도 불구하고 흑인들이 브레이드나 드레드락을 하면 정학을 당하기도 하고 해고당하기도 하고, 더러운 사람, 또는 위험한 사람으로 취급 당하기도 합니다. 반대로 같은 머리를 다른 문화권의 사람들이 하면 대부분 사람들이 그냥 멋있다고 생각합니다. 흑인들은 그런 머리스타일과 엮인 편견에서 벗어날 수 없는데, 다른 사람들이 힙합이나 레게를 좋아해서 혹은 멋지게 보이고 싶은 마음으로 그런 머리스타일을 하면 흑인이 아니라서 고통 받지 않습니다. 이런 억울함 때문에 아이돌들이 이러한 머리스타일을 할 때마다 팬들은 상처도 받고 화가 나기도 합니다.

"못 생겨서 보기 싫다"는 것이 전혀 아닙니다. "만약 그런 머리스타일을 하면 많은 해외 팬들이 상처를 받고 정이 떨어질 거고, 멤버들이 욕을 먹을 테니 제발 하지 마세요"라고 하는 거예요.

한 흑인 케이팝 팬은 이렇게 설명했습니다. "물론 문화교류도 좋지만, 동등한 위치에 있을 때에만 좋다고 생각해요." 흑인 애들이 학교에서 브레이드를 해도 더럽거나 안 좋은 동네에서 사는 애라고 불리지 않을 때까지 다른 문화권의 사람들이 (한국 아이돌 포함) 멋으로 이런 스타일을 하면 안 된다고 생각해요. 그 때가 오기 전까지는 팬들은 아이돌이 그런 머리스타일을 하는 것을 보면 마음이 아프다고 합니다.

다른 아이돌이 드레드락을 했을 때도 해외 팬들 사이에서 이슈가 됐습니다. 상처를 받은 팬들도 있었고, 욕을 하는 사람도 있었습니다. 타 그룹 팬들도 사진을 올려놓고 "드레드락 한 사람 누구야?"라고 하고 "망했네"라고 하는 글들이 있었습니다. 그 그룹의 팬들은 이런 반응을 보면서 마음이 아팠습니다.

펜타곤 멤버들이 컴백 컨셉이나 무대를 할 때 이런 스타일을 하면, 이슈가 될 겁니다. 해외 케이팝 팬들 사이에서 펜타곤 이미지가 악화될 것이고 펜타곤의 해외시장에 진출에 장애가 될 겁니다.

이 편지는 흑인 팬들만 보내는 것이 아닙니다. 다른 팬들도 이 문제는 아주 큰 문제라고 생각합니다. 차별을 당한 흑인 팬들이 상처 입는 것을 보기 싫고, 또 펜타곤 멤버들이 욕먹는 것을 보기 싫은 마음에 다함께 이 편지를 보냅니다.

펜타곤 멤버들과 펜타곤을 사랑하는 팬들을 지켜주시기 바랍니다.

감사합니다.

해외 유니버스 올림.

 

[ENG trans of the letter above]

Hello. We are overseas fans of PENTAGON.

We are concerned that the PENTAGON members will use hairstyles that will become a controversy. We're writing to you to explain why it becomes a controversy every time and why fans are hurt by it whenever idols use hairstyles commonly used by those in the black community (such as dreadlocks, braids, cornrows, etc.). We hope you will understand that if the members use these hairstyles, they will be heavily criticized for it.

It seems that lately these hairstyles are being used often by idols who want to do a "hip hop" concept or who want to look cool. But whenever idols do so, they are severely criticized by people overseas. This is because there are many people who perceive this to be extremely offensive.

There are many black people who use these hairstyles because it's an easy method of managing their otherwise difficult-to-manage hair, or for religious or cultural reasons, or as a symbol of resistance. However, when black people wear braids or dreadlocks, they are often suspended from school or fired, and seen as dirty or dangerous. In comparison, when people of other cultures use these styles, they're viewed as looking cool. Black people are unable to escape from the prejudice that is tied up with these hairstyles. However, when other people use them because they like hip hop or reggae, or because they want to look cool, they don't suffer. This injustice is why fans feel hurt and get angry when idols have this kind of hairstyle.

We are not at all saying "We don't want them to have these hairstyles because it looks ugly." Instead, we are saying, "If they wear these hairstyles, fans will be hurt by it and feel less connected to the group, and the members will be criticized, so please do not do this."

One K-pop fan explained it like this. "I am all for cultural exchange but only when it is done on equal terms." Until black children can wear braids to school without being called dirty or ghetto, people from other cultures (including Korean idols) should not use these styles as a way to look cool. Fans say that until that time, they will be upset if they see idols wearing these styles.

When another idol wore dreadlocks, this became a controversy among overseas fans. There were fans who were hurt by it, and also people who criticized them. Fans of other artists shared photos and said, "Who is the one in the dreadlocks?" and "They're cancelled." Fans of that group were upset to see these reactions.

If the members of PENTAGON wear these styles as a comeback concept or for a performance, it will become a controversy. PENTAGON's image within the overseas K-pop community will be harmed and it will damage their ability to break into the foreign market.

This letter is not being sent by only black fans. Other fans also think this is a very large issue. This letter is being sent by both black and non-black fans because fans don't want to see each other hurt, and we don't want to see the PENTAGON members be criticized.

We hope that you will protect both the PENTAGON members and PENTAGON's fans who love them.

Thank you.

From overseas Universes.