Plagiarism Vs. Homage— Popular K-Pop Group’s New Release Triggers Intense Reactions

Recently, ZEROBASEONE released its pre-single, SLAM DUNK, and received mixed reactions online.

Many felt that the concept was plagiarizing the original Japanese manga Slam Dunk and criticized them for using exact lines from the series in the fan chant.

이게 용서된다고요? 게다가 팬들한테 말하게 만든다고요? 이걸 콘서트나 시상식에서 다른 그룹 팬들 중 슬램덩크 팬들이 들으면 어떻게 생각하겠다는 건가요? 그런 생각은 안 해봤어요? 양심은 대체 어디 갔습니까?@ZB1staff @ZB1_official pic.twitter.com/kfuXfkTrWG

— に (@V_V_b_ll) July 23, 2025

Can this be forgiven? And you’re making the fans say it? What do you think will happen if we perform this at a concert or award ceremony where fans of the manga are present? Have you not thought about this before? Where is your conscience?

웨이크원 미쳤냐고? 아니 원래 미친 거 알았는데 이건 진짜 ㅈㄴ 선 넘었잖아. 제대로 하는 일 하나도 없으면서 남의 나라 문화 베끼고 팬들한테 소리 지르라고? ㅈㄹ하지 마 진짜;;; 작가고 뭐고 팬들에 대한 ㅅㅂ 존중도 1도 없네 정신 좀 차려라 진짜로@ZB1_official @ZB1staff @wakeone_offcl https://t.co/xpGfUeRLL2

— 쮀니니..22 (@hyjpxxx3) July 23, 2025

WAKEONE, have you lost your mind? I already knew they were crazy, but this has seriously crossed the line. You guys don’t do anything right, and yet you copy someone else’s culture and make the fans yell it out? Stop playing. This shows you have zero respect for fans. Get a hold of yourselves.

팬들도 지금 부끄러워서 죽겠으니까
아티스트를 향한 공격은 삼가해주세요
애들이 하고자 한 게 아닙니다..
팰거면웨이크원이라는저능한소속사를패주세요
부탁드릴게요 https://t.co/MFvPvuhl2Z

— 0 (@jiminbabo__) July 24, 2025

The fans are already dying from embarrassment, so please stop attacking the members. It’s not like they wanted to do this. If you are going to bash someone, please bash the incompetent company.

슬램덩크는 만화 제목이기 전에 농구 용어입니다 https://t.co/8vOGzmgfVV

— 동글이 (@ssonicboomkt) July 11, 2025

OP: Is it ok to use the manga’s name as the title track? What’s going to happen to the ‘Slam Dunk’ timeline now.

Quote RT: ‘Slam Dunk’ is a basketball term before it was a manga title.

Some also felt that the music video concept was more of a problem than the fan chat.

응원법 만의 문제도 아닌데 컨셉이 아예 파쿠리세요
손바닥 넘버원가드까지 톡톡히 카피 해놓은거 아무생각없이 소비 잘만 하시더만?원래있던 농구용어다 불;스유니폼이다 거리더니 이제 대놓고 명대사까지 다 뽑아먹겟단 작정이냐고 어이업슨 https://t.co/8B6g8SpN0l pic.twitter.com/RS7n73ltRy

— 포우ポウー (@1111×1010) July 24, 2025

The concept itself is more problematic than the fan chant. They even copied the ‘No.1’ message on the hand. People say the term is just a basketball term and that the jersey looks like the Chicago Bulls uniform. Well, now it looks like they are just straight-up taking lines from the manga…