On April 8, 2025, f5ve, a Japanese girl group, stirred controversy by posting a meme-style photo of the late actress and singer Goo Hara on their Instagram Stories. The image, which was ultimately removed, depicted a woman alongside bold text reading “IDGAF”and featured a coffin emoji, igniting a significant backlash from netizens.
For those unfamiliar, Goo Hara tragically passed away in 2019 due to suicide, following years of harassment and immense public scrutiny. Recognizing the gravity of their actions, f5ve quickly issued an apology through their social media channels.
In their statement, the group acknowledged their lack of familiarity with Goo Hara and the context surrounding the shared image. They expressed their remorse and gratitude to those who reached out to provide insight into the situation, emphasizing that they do not take the matter lightly:
“We are deeply sorry and appreciate those who reached out to educate on this matter, this is not something we take lightly.”
The reaction from netizens was swift and critical. Many took to social media to express their views. One user on X highlighted the critical need for the group to consider the consequences of their actions, noting that their status as a brand means all behavior can have significant repercussions:
“Well, you should have done some research before posting the meme. Because you weren’t posting as an individual but as a brand, a company, a girl group. Where all your actions will affect the group’s future. So please be wise before using the internet!”commented a netizen on X.
Several others expressed disbelief at the group’s lack of knowledge regarding Hara, considering her prominence within the K-pop industry, particularly in Japan. Comments suggested that the social media team should exercise greater diligence in their posting practices:
“I get they wanna like interact with memes and stuff but their social media manager should be more careful with what they repost and maybe only repost things STRICTLY f5ve related,”commented another netizen.
Further comments reiterated the group’s alleged ignorance, with one individual stressing that anyone working in the Japanese music industry should easily be aware of Goo Hara and her impact:
“You/your social media manager should research who is in the images you post to avoid anything like this in the future. it’s very disappointing,”added another netizen.
A common thread in the responses was surprise over the group’s lack of familiarity with Hara, especially since she was a well-known figure whose group KARA enjoyed significant success in Japan:
“WE not familiar with Goo Hara??? but Kaede literally named KARA-Mister as her go-to K-pop song for karaoke???? Maybe the staff need to stop cosplaying as f5ve members themselves and take the responsibility???”reacted another netizen.
Remembering Goo Hara: A Legacy Beyond Tragedy
Goo Hara gained fame as a member of the iconic K-pop group KARA, also featuring in several popular television dramas, including “City Hunter.”Her solo career began in 2015 with the EP “Alohara (Can You Feel It?)”and continued even after KARA disbanded in 2016. Her final release was the maxi single “Midnight Queen,”launched in September 2019.
Tragically, Hara’s life came to an end in November 2019, ruled as a self-inflicted death. Leading up to this, she faced numerous challenges, including an abusive relationship that involved threats of public humiliation and relentless scrutiny from the media, mirroring the pressures also faced by her friend, Sulli.
Her untimely passing generated widespread discourse on sexual violence against women in South Korea, leading to a petition garnering over 200,000 signatures demanding stricter regulations against non-consensual recording and distribution of explicit materials, as well as a broader definition of sexual assault.
In 2024, it was revealed that Goo Hara was instrumental in exposing a corrupt police officer during an investigation into a chatroom scandal involving sharing assault videos of women, underlining her legacy not just as an entertainer, but also as an advocate for change.