The Korea Tourism Organization introduced Lizzie Yeo, its first virtual influencer and ambassador, to promote the organization in June. However, Red Velvet fans recently noticed that she looks similar to Irene.
KTO serves as an organization under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Its main job is to promote and give information to tourists and locals about South Korea and its tourist attractions.
As part of its campaign, it created Lizzie Yeo. But it hit a glitch because the virtual ambassador resembles the Happiness singer.
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Lizzie Yeo Resembles Red Velvet’s Irene
Lizzie Yeo, a 22-year-old virtual model, costs around $557,000 to create. She has been appearing in KTO’s promotional videos since July.
Months after the KTO released the ambassador, fans recently pointed out the similarities it has with Irene and slammed it for breaking one’s portrait rights. Some even see Kwon Nara in her image.
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“The one on the left side is Yeo Lizzie, and the one on the right side is Irene. They look the same. There are serious concerns over one's portrait rights here,” one member of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee said.
Aside from allegedly having a close resemblance with the idol, the virtual ambassador also came under fire for faking her SNS followers after KTO purchased the followers through a marketing platform.
Red Velvet Irene Always Turns People’s Heads
Amid the accusations, fans continue to praise the DUMB DUMB singer for her visuals.
In August, SMTOWN Live 2022 held its first in-person show in Korea after postponing it in the past years since 2017. Red Velvet performed its first Japanese full-length album’s title track, WILDSIDE. Among the members, Irene went viral for having bangs during the performance.
There have also been debates about whether she is the prettiest K-pop idol among third-generation idols.
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