IU’s agency denies plagiarism charges

Singer IU has found herself caught up in a plagiarism controversy after her song “Pink Shoes” was accused of being too similar to Nekta’s 2009 song “Here’s Us.”

But IU’s agency, Loen Entertainment, strongly denied the accusation yesterday, issuing a bar-by-bar comparison of the two songs.

“After talking to the songwriter, Lee Min-soo, and getting opinions from outside music experts, we have concluded that the melody in some parts of the two songs may sound similar, but the two songs’ chord progressions are completely different,” said Loen Entertainment in a statement.

Loen also denied rumors that the controversy would cause IU to wrap up promotions for her new album or cancel a concert scheduled for the end of November.

In addition, the well-known producer and songwriter Bang Shi-hyuk posted comments on his Twitter account on Saturday taking issues with those accusing him of plagiarism.

“In music, there are two concepts called genre and cliche,” he wrote. “If ‘Pink Shoes’ is considered plagiarism, most other existing swing jazz songs will have to be accused of plagiarism, too.”

IU’s “Pink Shoes,” from her third full-length album, “Modern Times,” was released in October, nearly a year and a half since her last album.

By Yim Seung-hye