[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] The Refund Expedition, formed through MBC's 'Hangout with Yoo?' and having sparked numerous buzz, made their first stage debut on the 17th, but some unfavorable criticism poured in directed at them. Criticisms arose regarding choreography, costumes, and camera work. Amid mixed opinions about their debut stage, anticipation grows for the 'joyful journey' they will showcase, overcoming the criticism.
The Refund Expedition made a spectacular debut on the 17th through MBC's 'Show! Music Core,' announcing the birth of an unprecedented girl group.
The video capturing the Refund Expedition's debut stage surpassed a total of 4 million cumulative views on Naver TV, YouTube, and other platforms, generating explosive reactions. The teaser video for the 'DON'T TOUCH ME' music video, which was unexpectedly revealed during the broadcast, also garnered tremendous viewer response, raising expectations.
Many viewers applauded their powerful debut stage, cheering, "They tore up the stage," and "They rewrote the legend." However, some netizens expressed disappointment with the choreography and camera work.
On the broadcast, Aiki explained the choreography concept, saying, "Since everyone already knows we are very girl crush and sexy, we pursued a more androgynous image."
However, some netizens responded negatively, saying things like, "The choreography is childish. It looks like aerobics," "The choreography kills the song," and "How could they create such choreography for those four?" Some even left a 'shower of malicious comments' on Aiki's Instagram, directly expressing their dissatisfaction.
Costumes and camera work also sparked controversy. Regarding the black leather outfits emphasizing confidence, some netizens harshly criticized, saying, "How could they match the tone with the backup dancers?" "The costumes look too stifling," and "They don't suit them." Comments about the camera and stage included, "It's too flashy," and "The stage looks cheap, making the choreography look even worse."
The Refund Expedition attracted attention from the moment of formation. Led by 'eldest sister' Uhm Jung-hwa, who reigned as Korea's top sexy icon, the group boasted a dazzling lineup including superstar Lee Hyori, uniquely skilled rapper Jessi, and hot celebrity singer Hwasa. However, while their individual solo skills were well regarded, there were concerns about whether they could harmonize as a group.
Despite the unexpected malicious comments on their highly anticipated debut stage, the Refund Expedition was sufficient to spark a kind of "strong sister syndrome." According to Nielsen Korea, the show 'Hangout with Yoo?' recorded a 13.3% viewership rating (Part 2, metropolitan area basis) on the 18th, ranking first in the same time slot and first among all Saturday variety programs.
Netizens also welcomed the activities of these 'stars' transcending generations with comments such as, "The lyrics of DON'T TOUCH ME, saying that everyone's individuality is not wrong but different, really resonate," "So cool. The birth of a legend," and "Let's go all the way to Billboard. Please show us even better stages in the future."
Hwasa, a member of the Refund Expedition, said in a stage interview that day, "Please look forward to this once-in-a-lifetime combination that you won't easily see again and don't know when it will come out next." As Hwasa said, attention is focused on the 'joyful journey' they will gift viewers, as their synergy once again ignites a 'syndrome' in the music industry.
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