BABYMONSTER is facing backlash over their latest Music Core performance, with fans slamming YG Entertainment for an excessive and “out of touch” concept.
The controversy began with a viral post on TheQoo, which skyrocketed to over 85,000 views in hours. The post criticized BABYMONSTER’s stage and creative direction.
Since their new track “Hot Sauce” dropped, BABYMONSTER has heavily leaned on references to Seo Taiji and Boys. Their final music show stage paid homage to Seo Taiji’s “I Know” era — from retro styling to subtitle designs.
The tribute didn’t land well. Many fans argued the group is being forced to channel an era they have no connection to.
“They already paid homage to Seo Taiji and Boys‘ ‘I Know’ music video for the Hot Sauce MV, and now they’re even bringing in the MC from that time to recreate the debut stage? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Seriously, what does BABYMONSTER have to do with any of this?”
— Fan via X (formerly Twitter)
“BABYMONSTER wasn’t created for you to relive your Seo Taiji and Boys nostalgia. If you want to reminisce about those days, do it on your own. Why are you dragging BABYMONSTER into it and forcing it on the general public? Do it yourself. Leave BABYMONSTER alone and let them build their own thing. Why do a bunch of kids have to pretend it’s the 1990s in the year 2025? This is seriously messed up.”
— Fan via X (formerly Twitter)
Criticism also targeted Yang Hyun Suk, YG Entertainment’s founder and a former member of Seo Taiji and Boys. Netizens accused him of projecting his own nostalgia onto the rookie group.
Fans had tough words for the concept:
- "Ah… right, Yang Hyun Suk was in Seo Taiji and Boys… I was wondering why Seo Taiji kept coming up out of nowhere."
- "The biggest problem is that the song sucks."
- "Even Seo Taiji wouldn’t go this far. Yang Hyun Suk’s the one going overboard, no wonder people are saying he’s stuck in the past."
- "There are so many good concept ideas they could’ve done, and they chose this? Unbelievable!!!!!"
- "Trainees seriously need to stop going to YG…"
- "This is really hard to watch. Why is the guy who used to be one of the ‘Boys’ from Seo Taiji and Boys acting like this?"
As the backlash grows, many feel the Music Core stage crossed a line by overshadowing BABYMONSTER’s identity with outdated references that don’t resonate with younger audiences.
