LE SSERAFIM recently made headlines at the VMAs, but the group's leader, Chaewon, has come under fire for her English skills.

On September 16, LE SSERAFIM was celebrated for their achievements, including performances at Coachella and appearances on American TV. Despite their success, the group has faced criticism regarding their skills, especially in English.

As an internationally focused group, English proficiency is closely watched. Within LE SSERAFIM, main vocalist Huh Yunjin and Japanese member Kazuha are noted for their strong English skills. They often handle interviews and interactions abroad.

At the VMAs, LE SSERAFIM attracted a lot of international media attention. Yunjin handled most of the interviews, but during one, leader Kim Chaewon struggled with an English question. She appeared confused and couldn’t understand the question, even with Yunjin translating it into Korean.

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Chaewon remained frozen and unable to respond, leading Kazuha to step in and answer on her behalf. Chaewon tried to cover her embarrassment with a smile, but the moment was widely shared online.

Criticism poured in, with many questioning LE SSERAFIM’s readiness for the international market. Some netizens felt Chaewon’s struggle indicated a lack of effort to improve her English skills.

Fans, however, have defended Chaewon. They argue that language skills improve with time and that the criticism might be unfairly harsh.

They point out that many Korean idols face similar language barriers without as much backlash, and LE SSERAFIM’s three foreign members demonstrate that the group has strong English capabilities.

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BTS member Jimin made history at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS, becoming the first solo artist ever to win the prestigious Visa Fan’s Choice of the Year award.

On November 22, Jimin was honored with the Fan’s Choice of the Year award at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS JAPAN, held at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan. This marks a huge milestone in his career, especially considering his ongoing military service.

Jimin made history as the first solo artist to win the Fan’s Choice of the Year award, a category that BTS had dominated for six years since its debut in 2018.

In addition to this achievement, Jimin also took home the Fan’s Choice Grand Prize, making him a two-time winner at this year’s awards.

Although Jimin couldn't attend the ceremony due to his military service, his name was met with loud cheers from fans when announced.

His incredible win continues to prove his global influence as a solo artist. Jimin had also won Best Male Artist at the 2023 MAMA AWARDS, marking back-to-back wins at the event.

The MAMA AWARDS praised Jimin for his groundbreaking achievements, saying, “As the first K-pop solo artist to reach 4 billion streams and set the longest-running #1 record for a Korean artist, Jimin has proven his influence as a world-class artist and global pop star.”

Jimin's win also made him the first solo artist to claim a grand prize at the MAMA AWARDS in 10 years, with his achievement sparking excitement worldwide.

On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag “CONGRATULATIONS JIMIN” topped the trends, while “우리지민이상받았네” (Our Jimin Got the Award) reached the #1 spot in Korea.

Jimin’s ongoing success continues to shine even during his military service. He was also recently named Best K-pop at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards and continues to be recognized for his charitable efforts, including a recent donation of 100 million KRW to the National Defense Soldier and Veteran Love Fund.

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