Recently, LE SSERAFIM made it into the ranks of K-pop groups performing and winning awards at the VMAs. This year, the group has been given several opportunities by their company to “battle” in the international market, such as performing at Coachella, promoting on American TV, and most recently, appearing on stage before the VMAs.
LE SSERAFIM is rising quickly, but the public has not fully acknowledged them due to unresolved skill gaps. Besides the ongoing debate about their live singing, the group has also been criticized for their members’ language skills.
As an internationally oriented group, English is an aspect that many people pay attention to. Within LE SSERAFIM, the main vocalist Huh Yunjin is a true American girl and Japanese member Kazuha has strong communication skills. As a result, during interviews or performances abroad, Yunjin and Kazuha typically take on the role of communicating and engaging the crowd.
Recently at the VMAs, LE SSERAFIM was highly sought after by international media. As usual, Yunjin answered the majority of the interviews. However, during one interaction at the VMAs, leader Kim Chaewon had an embarrassing moment when faced with an English question. She visibly showed confusion, unable to understand even a simple question.
@forpiona fimmies on Entertainment Tonight! interview #lesserafim #chaewon #sakura #yunjin #kazuha #eunchae #vmas ♬ CRAZY (David Guetta Remix) – LE SSERAFIM & David Guetta
Even when Yunjin stepped in to help by translating the question into Korean, Chaewon remained awkwardly frozen and unable to respond. Kazuha eventually had to answer on her behalf, while Chaewon tried to save face with a “slay” expression to hide her embarrassment.
This moment of Chaewon was widely circulated on social media, with many critical comments. People mocked LE SSERAFIM for lacking key qualities to succeed in the international market. Chaewon’s inability to comprehend a simple question, leaving her group members helpless, was criticized, with some saying LE SSERAFIM’s leader wasn’t making an effort to improve her skills.
Many netizens even compared LE SSERAFIM to other girl groups of the same era. In particular, next to NewJeans, LE SSERAFIM’s English proficiency is notably weak. Aside from Chaewon, youngest member Eunchae also struggles with fluency in English. Once again, Chaewon faced an embarrassing moment.
However, fans of the group have offered various reasons to defend the idol. They argue that English skills can be learned and developed over time. Fans also believe that netizens are applying “double standards” to LE SSERAFIM, as many Korean idols who aren’t fluent in English receive understanding, whereas Chaewon is being attacked due to preexisting dislike. From a fair perspective, LE SSERAFIM is still a group that speaks English well, with no need for an interpreter, since they have three foreign members.
