Statement Posted on Official Website
"Sincere Apologies to Fans" Expressed
The five-member Japanese indie band "Super Dungsanbu" (ス-パ-登山部), formed in 2023, has decided to withdraw the audio track for their new song "Sanbo" (山步) and delete its music video after facing criticism that the song is excessively similar to the late Kim Kwangseok's signature track. On October 1, Super Dungsanbu announced on their official website, "Many people have pointed out that 'Sanbo' is very similar to Kim Kwangseok's 'Where the Wind Blows.' We have taken these comments seriously and decided to sequentially withdraw the audio track for 'Sanbo' and halt the release of related videos."
The song in question, "Sanbo," was released on September 10 and soon drew suspicions of plagiarism due to significant similarities in its main melody to "Where the Wind Blows." Initially, the band explained that they were unaware of Kim Kwangseok's song during the songwriting process. However, as the controversy grew, Super Dungsanbu addressed the plagiarism allegations in comments on their YouTube channel. In Korean, they stated, "After reading your comments, we listened to Kim Kwangseok's 'Where the Wind Blows' for the first time, and we were surprised to find that parts of the melody are indeed similar," acknowledging the resemblance.
Super Dungsanbu continued, "We are taking the feedback seriously and have decided to sequentially withdraw the audio track for 'Sanbo' and halt the release of related videos. The YouTube video will be set to private 24 hours after the apology and notice are posted." They added, "We sincerely apologize to everyone and all parties who felt uncomfortable due to this incident, and we also deeply apologize to our fans for causing concern."
A mural of Kim Kwangseok painted in the alley of Bangcheon Market in Jung-gu, Daegu. In the alley murals, he is shown serving noodles, and in another painting, he is singing. Photo by Asia Economy Database
They further explained, "Although we now know it is a very famous song in Korea, we regretfully did not know about it during production. The melody, which we composed with the image of walking in the mountains, ended up being partially similar, and we are taking the fact that we released such a similar song very seriously." They concluded, "'Sanbo' was composed with the image of enriching one's mind and life through time spent walking in the mountains and nature. Through this incident, we have come to know an outstanding Korean classic, and we have once again realized that music has the power to connect people across borders. We will keep our respect for Kim Kwangseok's masterpiece in our hearts and be even more careful in our future work." Meanwhile, Kim Kwangseok's "Where the Wind Blows" was included in his fourth album released in 1994 and continues to be loved by many, being featured in various media such as dramas and commercials.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
