IVE’s Jang Wonyoung Responds to “KPop Demon Hunter” Allegations of Plagiarizing “I Am,” Sparking Strong Reactions
IVE’s Wonyoung is facing backlash after speaking out about the controversy surrounding the hit song “Golden” from the Sony film KPop Demon Hunters.
The controversy began when fans noticed striking similarities between “Golden” and IVE’s track “I Am” shortly after the movie’s release nearly a year ago. Accusations flew that the film’s writers copied IVE’s song, sparking heated debates online.
KPop Demon Hunters follows a group of demon hunters who are also a famous K-pop group. The film and its soundtrack have won multiple awards, including “Best Song Written for Visual Media” at the Grammys. Despite its success, the plagiarism claims have lingered.
Fans quickly reacted to the allegations, with many insisting “Golden” is a blatant copy of “I Am.” Some tweets even questioned why Starship Entertainment never took legal action against the film’s producers.
Now, Wonyoung has broken her silence. In a recent interview with Esquire Korea, she admitted she privately felt the two songs sounded similar but had never spoken about it publicly—until now.
Uh… this is actually the first time I’m saying this, but when I heard “Golden,” it reminded me of our song “I AM.” I was the only one thinking and feeling that way, and this is the first time I’ve said it out loud myself. But when people around me kept mentioning it too, I realized a lot of people felt the same way.
— Wonyoung
As the situation unfolded, fans flooded social media with mixed reactions, many continuing to accuse the film’s creators of copying IVE’s track.
they winning an oscar for best original song with a blatant copy of an already existing k-pop song will never sit right with me
— (@achiavellian)
Actually, “I AM” is better than “GOLDEN” but y’all are not ready for that conversation
— ???? ֹ ᩿ ????æ ???? ֹ ᩿ (@thekauavictor)
i still don’t get why starship never sued netflix, teddy or whoever made that song… it’s literally the exact same melody lol
— sam (@tayrrorismo)
Nearly a year after KPop Demon Hunters premiered, the debate over “Golden” and “I Am” continues to divide fans and industry watchers alike.