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Is Yiren leaving Everglow? Singer on hiatus after controversial greeting, departs for China

After Yiren chose a Chinese traditional gesture over a Korean one, fans of the idol are divided over her actions

While the Korean culture is a melting pot for various cultures to flourish as one, many times the same cultures clash and cause rivalry among fandoms. Everglow is a six-member group with Chinese member Wang Yiren, who was recently embroiled in a culture-clash controversy. After the member of Everglow chose against bowing down to greet fans as per Korean culture and chose to replace the tradition with a Chinese traditional gesture, fans of the idol are divided over her actions.

Following the controversial greeting, Yiren has been gaining a lot of support from Chinese fans as well as media while Korean fans and media have taken this as a disrespect to their culture. Korean fans are now demanding the expulsion of Chinese idols from K-pop. Before the controversy goes out of proportion, on January 9, Yehua Entertainment announced that Yiren of Everglow would temporarily retire from group activities to focus on her academics as she would be returning to China for a while.

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Everglow’s Yiren to go on a hiatus

Yehua Entertainment that manages the group reported that Yiren from Everglow was going on a sudden hiatus from mid-January to the end of February 2022 in order to focus on her academics. Yiren herself added to the statement, stating that she wanted to take a short break from her group activities to visit her family whom she has not met since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.

Everglow’s label also announced that since Yiren is soon going to depart for China, fans should continue their interest in Everglow, which they will continue to promote as a five-member unit in the absence of Yiren.

The agency added, “We ask for the fans’ understanding, and we ask for your support and interest in all activities of Everglow.”

Is Yiren leaving Everglow?

K-pop fans are particularly curious as to why Yiren decided to announce her hiatus so soon after being embroiled in a controversy that was a clash of the Korean and Chinese cultures. Everglow held a fan meet event on January 2, and during the closing of the show, all members of Everglow excwpt Yiren joined hands and bowed to fans as part of the Korean-style salutation method.

Yiren alone chose to opt-out of bowing but chose to raise her hands in style with the Chinese tradition that associates the traditional gesture to 'making big money'. While both traditions translate into positive meanings, Korean fans of the group were hurt by Yiren’s choice of not embracing their culture despite being in a Korean girl group while Chinese fans of Yiren rose in her support.

While it is uncertain whether Yiren will leave Everglow or choose to stay despite the backlash, fans have begun to wonder why Wang Yiren suddenly announced a trip to China so soon after the controversy.