Super Junior-D&E (Donghae and Eunhyuk) have taken the rare step of canceling all scheduled music broadcasts for their latest single GGB, following a burgeoning debate over the track’s title. Their label, Ode Entertainment, announced the decision, which took to its official account to address the controversy head-on.
Ode Entertainment shared, “We have internally discussed the issue and opinions regarding this album’s title track ‘GGB’ with the artist. After gathering various opinions, we have decided to cancel all music broadcast activities scheduled after the release.” The agency elucidated that “GGB” (gigibae in Korean) aimed to convey the longing for a past lover through relatable lyrics, stressing, “There was absolutely no intention to use it in a negative manner, as some fans might have worried.”
Despite these intentions, the label expressed regret over not considering the potential for discomfort or misunderstanding surrounding the term more thoroughly, acknowledging, “We discussed various alternatives, but nearly all parts of the album production were already in progress, limiting our options for change.”
However, Super Junior-D&E will continue to unveil other prepared content for fans. “We wanted to show fans a lot, so we plan to release all the diverse content we’ve worked hard on. We ask for your broad understanding,” the statement concluded.
The controversy ignited over the title “gijibae,”‘ which some critics argue demeans women. This led to mixed reactions, with some questioning, “Is stopping music broadcast activities really the end solution?” and others remarking, “Isn’t this a half-hearted explanation if everything else proceeds as planned?”
However, it’s important to note that the expression gigibae has been used without significant controversy in music before. For instance, CL, formerly of 2NE1, released the solo track “The Baddest Female”—which uses a similar term in Korean title—in 2013 without issue. After the agency’s announcement, questions and opposing views have emerged, such as “Is gigibae such a derogatory term?” “There are fans who have been waiting,” and “Isn’t canceling broadcasts a bit excessive?”
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