KATSEYE is a six-member girl group formed through the reality show Dream Academy, a collaboration between HYBE and Geffen Records. Composed of members Manon, Sophia, Daniela, Lara, Megan, and Yoonchae, they are a global group aimed at the American market.
Ahead of their debut, they announced their fandom name through a video on their YouTube channel.
Their fandom name was none other than EYEKONS, a play on their name KATSEYE and the word “icon.”
KATSEYE | KATSEYE/YouTube
Many fans found it “refreshing,” saying it fit their concept and made them “even more excited for their debut.”
| r/kpop/Reddit
On the other hand, several netizens noted that EYEKON sounds suspiciously similar to the K-Pop boy group iKON.
iKON | 143 Entertainment
“it’s not even the same”
i’m sorry but why are you all choosing this defense? can’t you hear yourself when you say eyekon and ikon, how they are LITERALLY the same? especially when written in hangul, where they will be marketed too? both are written as 아이콘. think & comprehend
— ziα 씨 (@ikonstantexo) April 22, 2024
iKON 아이콘 does exist. You should rename your fandom considering that iKON & eyekon are confusingly similar given the fact that they belong in the same industry. Where is your IPO? He/she must be aware of this fact. iKON is duly registered as a tradename, thus, protected by IPL. https://t.co/77piPOnawf
— iKON : iLOVE (@LaGiRAFE_iKONIC) April 22, 2024
The former YG Entertainment group debuted in 2015 and made their name known with hits such as “Love Scenario,” “My Type,” “Killing Me,” and more.
Though the announcement video was dropped over a week ago on April 12, it began circulating on social media once again due to a similar issue with fellow HYBE group ILLIT. The latter’s company, BELIFT LAB, was heavily criticized for choosing the fandom name LILLY.
OUR FANDOM NAME IS ‘LILLY’ OMG pic.twitter.com/2ZYR3NdhI2
— rune 𓇢𓆸 (@willibeit) April 21, 2024
Not only was it the same name as NMIXX member Lilly, but it was also the existing fandom name of BLACKPINK‘s Lisa.
NMIXX’s Lilly (Left) and BLACKPINK’s Lisa (Right) | Mnet & SBS
Netizens accused HYBE of lacking originality due to the back-to-back issues with ILLIT and KATSEYE.
First HYBE copying LILLIES FANDOM TO LILLY
THEN ADOR calling out HYBE for using ILLIT to copy new jeans
And then HYBE copying iKON 아이콘’s name for KATSEYE fandom name “EYEKON 아이콘스“
0 originality and just for that quick buck and attention pic.twitter.com/UwNCW49s1J
— x ||¦||¦¦ Liyennie on break finding $$$$ (@liyenniee) April 22, 2024
ILLIT’s fandom name: LILLY
KATSEYE’s fandom name: EYEKON
Is HYBE obsessed with YG or what?
— #LAY_PSYCHIC (@acdbriixojacvip) April 22, 2024
They asked them to change KATSEYE’s fandom name out of respect to iKON who debuted first.
hello @katseyeworld @HYBEOFFICIALtwt please change katseye fandom name because eyekons has similar pronounce like a korean boygroup iKON.
RESPECT THE NAME #RESPECTiKON
— 김지 (@firetruckck) April 22, 2024
hello @katseyeworld @HYBEOFFICIALtwt please change kateyes fandom name because eyekons has similar pronounce like a korean boygroup iKON.
(the hangul is the same only with the girl group added 스)#iKON #KATSEYE
please stop creating chaos in the kpop industry!!!!!! https://t.co/mSYo8G7iLC pic.twitter.com/jFcyVBzS82
— sam (@guguberry31) April 22, 2024
Read more about HYBE’s fandom name issue below.
