RIIZE Accused Of “Copying” Popular HYBE Boy Group

The post instantly became a hot topic.

SM Entertainment’s rookie boy group RIIZE is facing heavy scrutiny after being accused of copying a signature school uniform concept that fans claim was popularized by HYBE and Pledis Entertainment’s TWS.

RIIZE | SM Entertainment

On May 21, a trending post on the Korean online community Instiz claimed that RIIZE’s latest styling for their most recent comeback “Fly Up” closely resembles the outfits worn by TWS during their successful promotions for “Plot Twist.” The post included a photo comparing the two groups’ outfits, noting the alleged similarity in the baggy school uniform look.

Ah this really does look a lot like TWS’ outfits. Now whenever I see that kind of school uniform, I immediately think of TWS LOL.

— Instiz post

RIIZE

TWS made headlines earlier this year with their debut track “Plot Twist,” not only for the song’s success but also for the signature fashion concept — oversized school uniforms that balanced boyish charm with a preppy aesthetic. Fans and netizens quickly associated this style with the group, calling it a “signature” look that helped define their image.

TWS | Mnet

While school uniform styling is far from new in K-pop, the timing and similarity of RIIZE’s concept have sparked discussions online. Some netizens feel the look is too close to TWS’s recent styling, while others argue it’s a common concept that can’t be claimed by one group.

| Instiz

• “It’s honestly such a common school uniform…”
• “To be fair, the style is super common, but since their debut look left such a strong impression, it reminds me of that.”
• “Now that I’m seeing it like this, it does look similar, but school uniform styling has been around for ages… Maybe it just feels that way more because they’re both 5th-gen groups.”
• “I think it’s because the debut outfit and the school uniform color arrangement are kind of similar, LOL. School uniforms and preppy looks are super common, though.”
• “Actually, now that I think about it, the color arrangement is different too, LOL. Might just be because I saw it recently.”