Fifth-Gen Girl Group Sparks Controversy Over National Anthem Rendition

Netizens are still outraged.
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Serah S. Cherrie
Serah S. Cherrie

A fifth-generation girl group has sparked heated discourse on social media over their rendition of the Korean national anthem at a baseball game.

The controversy originally stemmed from an event last year, when RESCENE, the group in question, made an appearance at a KBO League baseball game between the KT Wiz and the Kiwoom Heroes. The group’s Japanese member, Minami, made history that day by becoming the first foreign singer to perform the national anthem at a professional Korean baseball game.

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RESCENE, singing the national anthem at the baseball match

The performance recently resurfaced on X (formerly Twitter), with a fan praising Minami for all the effort she put into it. Thanks to RECENE’s recent uptick in popularity, the post garnered huge attention, drawing scathing reactions from Korean netizens.

Screenshot 2026-06-04 193028

While most critics acknowledged that Minami sang the national anthem well, they took issue with the fact that a Japanese idol was leading it, when RESCENE has Korean members who could have done it instead. The controversy spiraled into a heated debate about nationalism, and the original post was eventually deleted.

She sang it beautifully, but let’s not have a foreigner serve as the representative to lead the national anthem. It feels a bit disrespectful.

— The post above

Korea really is something else—having a Japanese person stand center stage and sing the national anthem…Conversely, if a Korean were to sing the Japanese national anthem, they’d probably just get called a traitor, wouldn’t they?

— The post above

I know Minami sings well, but why did they make a foreign member sing the national anthem? Liv could have done it, too?

— The post above

It’s a matter of pride when a Korean goes to the Major Leagues and sings the U.S. national anthem, but it’s considered rude when a group consisting of four Koreans and one foreigner sings the Korean national anthem?

— The post above

It absolutely baffles me that people are making such a huge fuss. It’s not like she sang the Japanese national anthem; she sang the Korean national anthem! Just as anyone can learn the Korean language, anyone can sing the national anthem. If you love Korea, anyone can become Korean.

— The post above

No, but what do you mean a Japanese person is singing like this? Minami, I love you!

— The post above

Back in April 2025, when Minami actually sang the Korean national anthem at the match, she received high praise for her respectful handling of the responsibility. Though some questioned this choice, the renewed outrage appears to be triggered by RESCENE’s sudden rise in popularity.

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