Nearly a year after the release of the hit animated film KPop Demon Hunters, renewed discussion about alleged similarities between its soundtrack and a song by IVE has gone viral again after member Wonyoung openly addressed the controversy for the first time.

Since its debut, “KPop Demon Hunters” has become a major global success. The Sony-produced film follows a fictional K-pop girl group who secretly work as demon hunters while balancing worldwide fame and intense supernatural battles. The movie quickly built a strong fanbase thanks to its animation, storyline, and especially its soundtrack, which achieved major commercial success and earned several award nominations.

One of the film’s standout songs, Golden, became particularly popular online and eventually received industry recognition, including winning “Best Song Written for Visual Media” at the Grammy Awards. However, shortly after the movie’s release, some listeners began claiming that “Golden” sounded strikingly similar to IVE’s hit track I AM.

The debate spread rapidly across social media platforms, where fans posted comparison clips highlighting similarities in melody, structure, and overall musical atmosphere. While some argued the resemblance was coincidental or simply reflected common pop music trends, others accused the film’s songwriters of copying elements from IVE’s song.

For months, neither IVE nor its members publicly commented on the accusations. That changed recently when Wonyoung appeared in an interview with Esquire Korea and was asked directly about the ongoing comparisons between the two tracks.

During the interview, Wonyoung confirmed that she had watched “KPop Demon Hunters.” When the interviewer brought up the similarities between “Golden” and “I AM,” the idol admitted that she had privately noticed the resemblance herself.

“This is actually the first time I’m saying this,” Wonyoung explained. “When I heard ‘Golden,’ it reminded me of our song ‘I AM.’ I thought and felt that way on my own at first, and this is the first time I’ve said it out loud. But when people around me kept mentioning it too, I realized a lot of people felt the same way.”

Her comments immediately reignited online debate surrounding the songs. Many netizens interpreted Wonyoung’s statement as indirect confirmation that the similarities were significant, with some social media users reviving plagiarism allegations against the film’s soundtrack producers.

Posts discussing the interview quickly spread online, with some fans arguing that Wonyoung’s remarks validated concerns that had existed since the film’s release. Others, however, warned against jumping to conclusions, noting that musical similarities do not automatically prove plagiarism.

Supporters of “KPop Demon Hunters” also defended the soundtrack, arguing that modern pop music frequently shares similar chord progressions, structures, and production styles. Some pointed out that neither Wonyoung nor anyone from IVE explicitly accused the songwriters of copying “I AM.”

At the same time, many fans praised Wonyoung for addressing the topic honestly rather than avoiding the discussion altogether. Some also noted that her comments appeared measured and careful, focusing more on personal impressions than direct accusations.

As debate continues online, neither Sony nor the producers behind “Golden” have publicly responded to the renewed plagiarism claims. Still, Wonyoung’s unexpected comments have once again pushed the controversy back into the spotlight, nearly a year after the film first became a global phenomenon.