KATSEYE’s Fandom Name Receives Massive Backlash From Netizens

The newly formed girl group KATSEYE, composed of members Manon, Sophia, Daniela, Lara, Megan, and Yoonchae, has quickly gained attention following their formation through the reality show Dream Academy, a collaboration between HYBE and Geffen Records.

Aimed at the American market, KATSEYE’s global appeal has already sparked conversations, but not all of them are positive. The group announced their fandom name “EYEKONS” through a video on their official YouTube channel.

“Can’t they change the fandom name of HYBE’s new girl group, FR? People on X are fighting all day and everyday about it. This name fanwar, makes me so sick, so much that I have 0 confidence in fighting against that overweight juicy pig… Please just change it… Every time I see it on my suggested posts, I get so upset… This is ours… Ah, I’m getting ill again. “ — heunghacnayo

However, this announcement has ignited controversy among fans, particularly among supporters of the established K-pop boy group iKON. The term EYEKONS, when pronounced, is identical to iKON, a group that debuted under YG Entertainment in 2015 and made waves with hit songs such as Love Scenario and Killing Me.

“Please consider it well, HYBE. All the iKON members are in the army… They don’t know what is going on… Then they’ll be discharged… And they’ll go to promote on music shows… And if that girl group makes a comeback… They would be like ‘EYEKONS, we missed you!’ and iKON will be backstage thinking that they are their fans. That’s so embarrassing! This is literally the worst case scenario for overlapping names in K-Pop.” — heunghacnayo

The iKON fanbase, known as iKONICs, was quick to call out the similarities between the two names, taking to social media to express their frustration. Many iKONICs feel that the name EYEKONS is not only disrespectful but also an infringement on the identity iKON has built over the past nine years.

“Actually, the moment we tried to raise awareness about their fandom name, this girl group deliberately shaded us. It was clearly intentional. They dug their own grave.”

Another fan voiced concern over K-pop culture and tradition, writing, “In K-pop, each group is given a unique fandom name that serves as a unifying identity. A name that sounds identical to an already known group is disrespectful to this culture.”

The backlash didn’t stop with iKONICs. Fans from other fandoms joined the conversation, accusing HYBE of a lack of originality.

Several netizens pointed out that HYBE had recently faced criticism for a similar issue with another group, ILLIT, whose original fandom name “Lillies” overlapped with the names of popular K-pop figures like NMIXX’s Lily and BLACKPINK’s Lisa. HYBE eventually changed ILLIT’s fandom name to “GLLIT,” but it seems history is repeating itself.

Wow, they did this again? ONEUS is still active, but they debuted a group called TWS (‘Two-us’ in Korean), they named ILLIT’s fandom Lillies and got cursed out so they changed it. That was so recent too. F*ck, they literally have no morals at all. All their names are like parody names of real idols that appear in webtoons. F*cking insincere of them. — jejeongs1n_nono

Fans have not held back in accusing HYBE and KATSEYE of being tone-deaf and disrespectful towards iKON, a senior group in the industry. One tweet read, “They think they can just buy their way into someone else’s success. They’re forgetting that true success is built on originality and respect.”

The fan added, “They think they can just waltz into K-pop and steal the spotlight, but they’re forgetting one thing: RESPECT matters.”

Many pointed out that iKON is not only a recognized name in South Korea but also in the U.S. market, where KATSEYE is reportedly aiming to establish themselves. This overlap in markets makes the fandom name issue even more sensitive, as iKON has already solidified its presence in both the Korean and international music scenes.

iKONICs have also highlighted the potential legal and trademark issues surrounding the name EYEKONS. One iKONIC broke it down, explaining that iKON holds trademarks in South Korea and the U.S. for artistic purposes, while other similar names exist but for entirely different industries.

They pointed out the specific issue with the HANGUL writing of EYEKONS (아이콘즈), which is nearly identical to iKON (아이콘). “The problem is not the English writing, but the Hangul. That rookie girl group is actively promoting in South Korea at music shows despite saying they wouldn’t,” the fan emphasized.

This has led many to believe that despite KATSEYE’s aim to target the U.S. market, they are still promoting heavily in South Korea, further blurring the lines between the two groups and their fan identities.

As the backlash intensifies, fans are calling on HYBE and Geffen Records to change KATSEYE’s fandom name out of respect for iKON and their legacy. “It seems like fans of this girl group and the company itself are showing shameless behavior and a lack of originality. It’s disrespectful toward seniors who have been in the industry for nine years.”

While no official statement has been made by HYBE or Geffen Records regarding the controversy, the situation continues to escalate on social media, with iKONICs and other fandoms uniting to demand change.

It remains to be seen whether the company will address the growing concerns or stand by their decision. Either way, it’s clear that the EYEKONS fandom name has struck a nerve within the K-pop community, and the backlash shows no signs of slowing down.