Disney's live-action adaptation of "The Little Mermaid" has stirred up controversy in Korea due to the choice of promotional material featuring NewJeans' Danielle, the voice actress for Ariel in the Korean dubbed version, instead of Halle Bailey, the lead actress.

As the film's target audience comprises primarily children, concerns have been raised that the promotional campaign could lead to confusion among young viewers, who might mistake Danielle for the "real" Ariel.

Upon the announcement of NewJeans Danielle as the voice actress for Ariel, Disney Korea embarked on an extensive promotional campaign, featuring Danielle prominently on posters, billboards, and major television channels such as SBS.

This decision sparked a wave of criticism from Korean audiences, who were expecting to see Halle Bailey, the lead actress, in the promotional material.

Korean netizens took to various online platforms to voice their discontent with the promotional strategy.

Here are some of the comments that captured the prevailing sentiment:

"Why are they showing the face of the voice actress instead of the main actress? Is this an animated film instead of a live-action?"

"The trailer is no different. There isn't a single direct shot of Halle Bailey."

"This way, children will mistake Danielle for the lead actress and go to the theaters expecting to see her."

"They hyped up the 'black little mermaid' but didn't show her face in the trailer. What's up with that?"

Despite the controversy surrounding the promotional campaign, "The Little Mermaid" live-action film premiered in Korea on May 24th as scheduled.

It remains to be seen how the public reception will unfold and whether the concerns raised by netizens will impact the film's success in the Korean market.

What are your thoughts?

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Former S.E.S member Shoo (Yoo Soo Young) warmed hearts as she shared a touching moment with her twin daughters—taking them to the same wholesale market where she once worked during a difficult time in her life.

On May 8, Shoo posted several photos on Instagram showing her spending time with her twin daughters, Ra Hee and Ra Yul, at the Dongdaemun wholesale market. In the caption, she wrote, “Did everyone enjoy the holiday? I feel like I made a memory I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.”

The photos showed Shoo and her daughters smiling brightly while eating and shopping together. Her daughters, now visibly grown up, were even seen wearing similar shoes and clothes as their mom.

Shoo opened up about a painful chapter in her past. “When I was struggling, I once sold clothes I got from Dongdaemun with the help of a friend,” she shared. “I used to go there from night to early morning, picking up fleece clothes, hairpins, and shoes, thinking, ‘My kids would love this if I brought them here.’”

Now that her daughters are older, Shoo finally fulfilled that dream. “We laughed so much while shopping. We bought hairpins, socks, and clothes together,” she said. “They’ve grown so much—they can even wear the same things as me.”

Reflecting on the experience, she added, “Memories of my past flashed before my eyes. I told them how I used to work late at night, carrying heavy bags and walking around for 10 hours straight.”

Shoo emotionally concluded, “I was so happy to show my kids the nighttime world I once worked in.”

Fans who remember Shoo’s twins from The Return of Superman were touched to see how much they’ve grown. Shoo, now a proud mom of three, continues to update fans through her TV appearances and social media, showing her strength as both a mother and former idol.

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