On January 9, 2026, SM Entertainment's rising idol Jaehee from the popular boy group NCT found himself at the center of a heated debate about visual standards in K-pop. The controversy erupted followi...
On January 9, 2026, SM Entertainment 's rising idol Jaehee from the popular boy group NCT found himself at the center of a heated debate about visual standards in K-pop . The controversy erupted following the release of unedited footage from a recent performance at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, where NCT was promoting their latest album, 'Neo Vision'. The performance, which took place on January 7, 2026, was part of their ongoing global tour. Unedited Performance Footage Sparks Controversy The unedited footage, first aired on Mnet's YouTube channel and subsequently shared by fans across platforms like Twitter and Instagram, drew attention for showing Jaehee without the usual visual enhancements often applied in post-production. Critics were quick to comment on Jaehee's appearance, claiming a 'lack of good visuals' which they argue reflects a decline in the aesthetic standards among newer K-pop idols. Industry Standards and the Role of Visuals In the highly competitive wor...