Korea’s Most Beloved Song Gets “Blatantly Plagiarized”—The Band’s Explanation Fuels Even More Rage

On September 10, 2025 (KST), a Japanese indie band called Super Climbing Club released a single called “山歩” (translated to “Mountain Walk”). A little over a week later, the song is embroiled in a heated plagiarism accusation after Koreans found its uncanny similarities to one of Korea’s most beloved folk songs.

JTBC noted that a tipster who lives in Japan heard the new release on the radio and reported its similarities to them. The tipster is said to have heard the opening of the song and immediately thought of Kim Kwang Seok‘s “Where the Wind Blows.”

At first, I thought it was a Kim Kwang Seok remake and got excited. But when I looked up the song information, nowhere in the description did it say ‘remake.’

— Tipster

According to Super Climbing Club’s official platforms, “山歩” was written and composed by band member Tomoyuki Oda. Following the tipster reaching out to the band to ask about the similarities, Super Climbing Club responded that “it is purely coincidental” and asked that the Korean fans “understand the phenomenon” as something that “can sometimes happen.”

Of course, the band’s take on the plagiarism accusation has since caused an outrageous amount of heated reactions from Korea. In addition to slamming Super Climbing Club for being “shameless,” some netizens are also reporting it to the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) and asking for mediation.

• “It’s basically a cover version, how could that be coincidence? LOL.”
• “It’s identical.”
• “They plagiarized it and then had the nerve to say we should accept it with an open heart?! LOL, so shameless.”
• “It’s just the same song.”
• “Are they crazy? Just listening to the first 10 seconds, it’s completely the same.”
• “On brand for Japan, IMO.”
• “They plagiarized a song that almost every Korean would recognize… are they out of their minds? That excuse is BS, get lost.”

• “That song is so famous that every Korean knows it, and they blatantly plagiarized it? LOL insane.”
• “Crazy shady dudes.”
• “Turned it off right after the first line LOL.”
• “The member who claimed to have written and composed it is still openly promoting the song on Instagram today—so shameless.”
• “Did they think they wouldn’t get caught? Usually people wonder if something is actually plagiarism. But this one? The whole melody is the same LOL. It’s so blatant it’s funny.”
• “How could that possibly be a coincidence??? Are they crazy? And they’re not even taking the song down??”
• “What a load of nonsense.”
• “LOL what total BS. Keep lying, idiots.”

Super Climbing Club is yet to issue any further statement on the matter, and amid the demands to take the song down from their platforms, “山歩” remains available for streaming.

This is not the first time a Japanese group has been accused of plagiarising a Korean artist. Read more about aespa‘s “Whiplash” getting copied:

J-Pop Group Goes Viral For “Laughable” Plagiarism Of aespa’s “Whiplash”