HYBE’s New Girl Group Sparks Controversy Related To LE SSERAFIM
HYBE x GEFFEN recently picked the fourth and final member for their new global girl group, SAINT SATINE.
The survival show contestant, Sakura, was chosen over the other competitor, Ayana. The choice sparked a lot of controversy, and now there’s also drama surrounding her name.
During the World Scout show, SAINT SATINE’s Sakura was nicknamed “Kura” and “Saki” by fans and the contestants themselves. Those exact nicknames are also used for another HYBE idol, LE SSERAFIM‘s Miyawaki Sakura.
The argument from LE SSERAFIM fans is specific. “Saki” isn’t just a random short form of the name Sakura. It was coined during LE SSERAFIM’s song “1-800 Hot n Fun,” created by combining the “Sa” from Sakura and the “ki” from Miyawaki.
WHERE THE HECK IS SAKI?!
— fimloops (@fimloops) September 18, 2025
“Kura,” meanwhile, has been Miyawaki Sakura’s nickname since her IZ*ONE days.
Some pointed out that both names are tied to Sakura’s personal brand and aren’t considered “just nicknames” by them. She has a business called Kkurochet. She has songs built around the name Saki. The branding runs deep.
can sakura go by her full name now since hybe decided to pull that dumb ass stunt debuting someone with the exact same stage name
— ♩ 📁 (@pluieaout) May 12, 2026
ain't no one worried about your group hell you don't even know what songs they are gonna yet for some reason you support them …. Anyways Sakura built her brand on her name stuff like saki and kkura is apart of Sakura LSF has a song named saki Sakura has a brand named kkurochet https://t.co/Eh5BoTTfHf
— Kku Star³⁹🌸 (@star_kku) May 12, 2026
There’s a Sakura in HYBE’s new global girl group, and apparently her nickname is “Saki.”
For reference, LE SSERAFIM also has Miyawaki Sakura, whose nickname is Saki.
That nickname comes from combining the Sa in 'Sa'kura with the ki in Miyawa'ki'.
It’s a nickname that only…
— Aespann_jeans (@a1071364) May 13, 2026
"KKURA" was made since izone. "SAKI" means blooming in Japanese kanji (咲) which her name, Miyawaki Sakura (宮脇咲良), also it came from lsrfm's song..I get that the name is common but used same name for different artists in the same company could effect their artist's branding.
— Mila 😼 (ia) (@milkkura39) May 13, 2026
On the other side, some think Fearnots are overreacting, arguing that nicknames can’t be owned and that the backlash is unnecessary gatekeeping.
pls don’t be mad about a 16yo girl’s name…it’s not a stage name that was given to her, it’s her birth name.
and nobody can overshadow kkura ever btw whether they have the same name or not.— it’s ish 𐙚 (@acefimmies) May 13, 2026
sakura akgaes are beefing with a 5-minute old idol's fans over a name when it would be so much easier to just hype kkura even more to make sure she stays the person everyone associates with the name
— nevi 🌸 (@miyawakissme) May 12, 2026
Both groups are under HYBE, which makes the overlap even harder to ignore.
