K-Pop Idol’s Unexpected Apology Video For Cultural Appropriation Becomes A Hot Topic
Korean singer-songwriter from20, also known as Raehwan, has recently attracted significant attention following his response to criticism over cultural appropriation in promotional materials for his upcoming single “Eye Candy.”
The controversy began when teaser images showing the artist wearing a durag prompted immediate backlash from fans and netizens alike.
Opting to not go the usual route of posting the social media statements typically issued in similar situations across the entertainment industry, from20 chose a more comprehensive approach to addressing the controversy. The artist filmed and released an 18-minute YouTuvbe video titled “K-Pop Idol Learns About Cultural Appropriation,” featuring an educational dialogue with three guests — Janae, Nee, and Joy — who provided context about the cultural significance of the durag in Black culture.
During the conversation, from20 explained the original concept behind his styling.
[“Eye Candy”] is an homage to Black music, which I’ve loved ever since I was a kid. I love Hip-hop, R&B, I grew up listening to the late 90s and early 00s, especially. I wanted to give it a try and express it in my own way since I really love these genres.
In this process of creating ‘Eye Candy,’ it became apparent there are things I wasn’t aware of. There were a lot of comments regarding this. I took concept photos while wearing a durag. Since I don’t know, I need to learn, and I need to try to understand what it is and how they feel. I’m not the kind of person to just upload an apology because my company told me to. That’s why… even if it took time, I wanted to meet with you and have a conversation. I want to learn and understand what I did wrong. That’s why I invited you guys here today.
— from20
He also apologized in the video’s description.
I sincerely apologize to everyone who was hurt by me wearing the durag. Moving forward, I will become an artist who continues to respect, listen and learn.
— from20
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After the video was uploaded on YouTube, from20 shared it on his social media accounts and thanked his guests for helping him understand his mistake better.
I want to sincerely thank Janae, Nee, and Joy for taking the time to educate me about Black culture. I’m truly grateful for the stories you shared and for helping me understand why wearing a durag as a non-Black person can be harmful. I appreciate your openness and patience.… https://t.co/DSIq4PPVvR pic.twitter.com/ogX0lgR39l
— from20 (@from20_official) April 13, 2025
Reactions in the comments have been overwhelmingly positive, with fans hopeful this will set a positive precedent for other idols.
You can watch the full video below.
