Japanese Indie Band 'Super Bullet Train' Apologizes for Plagiarism Allegations of Kim Kwang-seok's Hit Song

Japanese indie band 'Super Bullet Train' (Super Sansanbu) has issued an apology following accusations of plagiarizing the late legendary singer Kim Kwang-seok's beloved song 'The Wind Blows'.

In a statement released on their official YouTube channel on the 18th, the band acknowledged the similarities. "We sincerely thank you for the many comments regarding our song 'Sanpo'. After reading your feedback, we listened to Kim Kwang-seok's 'The Wind Blows' (1994) for the first time, and we were surprised to find portions of the melody remarkably similar."

The band admitted, "Although it is a very famous song in Korea, we regrettably were unaware of it at the time of composition. We are seriously acknowledging the fact that the melody, composed with the image of walking in the mountains, has resulted in a similar-sounding song."

They continued, "This issue has led us to discover a wonderful Korean masterpiece and has made us realize anew the power of music to connect people across borders." The band expressed hope, "We would be grateful if both our fans in Japan and our fans in Korea could accept our music with warm hearts."

Previously, JTBC's 'Newsroom' reported on the plagiarism concerns surrounding 'Sanpo,' written and composed by band member Oda Tomoyuki. While the band initially denied the allegations when approached by a tipster, public criticism in both Korea and Japan led to their eventual apology.

'Super Bullet Train' concluded their statement by promising, "We will engrave our respect for Kim Kwang-seok's masterpiece in our hearts and will work more carefully in the future." They also extended their deep gratitude to everyone who provided valuable feedback.

Super Bullet Train, an emerging indie band from Japan, has garnered a significant following with their distinctive musical style. Prior to this controversy, their music was recognized for its delicate emotional depth and lyrical melodies. Oda Tomoyuki, a member of the band, was the writer and composer of the song 'Sanpo', making him directly involved with the melody in question.