Japanese Band Spitz Climbing Club Admits Melody Similarity to Kim Kwang-seok's Song, Claims Unawareness

Japanese indie band Spitz Climbing Club has acknowledged the melodic similarities between their song 'Sanbo' and the late Korean folk legend Kim Kwang-seok's 1994 hit 'Where the Wind Blows'. However, their official statement, released on their YouTube channel, focused on explanation rather than a direct apology.

"We sincerely thank you for the many comments regarding 'Sanbo'," the band stated in Korean. "After reading your comments, we listened to Kim Kwang-seok's 'Where the Wind Blows' for the first time and were surprised by the partial melodic resemblance."

They explained, "While we understand it is a very famous song in Korea, we were regrettably unaware of it during the composition process. We are seriously acknowledging the fact that a melody composed with the image of walking in the mountains coincidentally resulted in a similar song."

Spitz Climbing Club added, "This incident has allowed us to discover a wonderful Korean masterpiece, and we are reminded of music's power to connect people across borders." They concluded by expressing hope for their music to be received warmly by audiences in both Japan and Korea, and pledged to work with greater caution in the future, honoring Kim Kwang-seok's legacy.

The controversy first surfaced on the JTBC program 'Incident Commander', which highlighted the alleged plagiarism. The band initially denied any knowledge of Kim Kwang-seok's song, but faced mounting criticism from both Korean and Japanese netizens, prompting their official response.

However, the nature of their statement, leaning towards clarification rather than an apology, has intensified public backlash.

Spitz Climbing Club is an indie rock band from Japan, known for their melodically rich and emotionally resonant songs. Their music often explores themes of nature and everyday life. This controversy has brought significant international attention to the band.