Fans Defend 3rd Generation Girl Group Member In Light Of Cultural Appropriation Accusations

OH MY GIRL‘s Mimi recently visited Abu Dhabi as part of Earth Arcade. She uploaded a series of photos from her trip, including one of her dressed in traditional garments.

| @8_ohmygirl/x

She was immediately hit with backlash, with some accusing her of cultural appropriation.

Why don’t yall want to be Korean? What happened to hanboks and Korean street wear??? https://t.co/TWQQC4rofe pic.twitter.com/yNcoeNVA0G

— NINI🍉 (@sahyowifey) May 16, 2025

She was quickly defended by other netizens and fans who claim that she was appreciating culture, not appropriating it.

kpop fans are so fucking stupid they cant even distinguish cultural APPRECIATION from cultural APPROPRIATION https://t.co/1Olbs7jJDS

— 🌼 (@woongkai_always) May 17, 2025

Even Arabs and Muslims stepped up to the plate, praising her for her beauty. They encouraged the sharing of cultures and letting others explore.

What's wrong with her wearing this? She looks beautiful while y'all be chill & praising male idols for the same. It's not a big deal at all. As an emirati muslim we have no problem in them exploring our cultures. Cultures are supposed to be shared, encouraged and taught. https://t.co/bUw35us661 pic.twitter.com/uO3oXlGXHF

— fizz n funny (@theineffablemee) May 17, 2025

It was clarified that a local shop dressed her and helped pick out her clothes, makeup and accessories.

she went on a abu dhabi shop and the local dressed her like that, y'all also do the same when you go to korea and rent a hanbok. It's called culture appreciation. Plus no Arabs is mad on the qrt. https://t.co/DQIPvVOmlR

— 𝜗℘🪽 (@kitsheo) May 17, 2025

Fans also brought up a deeper-lying issue amongst international K-Pop fans. While those belonging to the culture in question had no issues with Mimi’s actions, it was people coming from other cultures that felt the need to step in, resulting in the hot debate online.