As the first SHINee member having a solo debut, Taemin is receiving massive attention even before the release of his mini-album titled "Ace."
On August 11, record label SM Entertainment released the music video teaser for Taemin's lead single "Danger." In less than 24 hours, the teaser has garnered over 500,000 views on YouTube, and it is also generating some comparisons to another K-pop idol.
"Bad move SM," commented Kawtar JiEun on YouTube. "Jaejoong much?"
Kim Jaejoong is one of three members of JYJ, who all departed from SM Entertainment's group TVXQ in 2010 after a long and controversial legal battle regarding the label's contracts.
The comparison between Taemin and Jaejoong has actually existed for quite some time, one that has been thoroughly (and humorously) dissected by K-pop fans like WhaleWhisper on onehallyu.
The comparison between Taemin and Jaejoong has actually existed for quite some time, one that has been thoroughly (and humorously) dissected by K-pop fans like WhaleWhisper on onehallyu.
"Taemin is slowly starting to look more like Jaejoong. I don't really know how to explain the exact characteristics of it, but it's mainly in the eyes. The pale skin and the increasing oddness of the face is also not something to be ignored."
Now, with his solo release, the comparison appears to be intensifying, causing some criticisms toward SM Entertainment for perhaps copying one of their former artist's concepts.
"Even the clothes are similar to Jaejoong in 'Mine' and 'Another Girl,'" wrote Junnie on allkpop.
"I feel like a lot of K-pop is referential of TVXQ whe they were five members, and now TVXQ and JYJ separately because they were such trailblazers for the genre," added Taemin25 on August 11.
"If we're looking at it that way, EXO's music video for 'Overdose' was basically 'Mirotic' but without the floating chick tormenting them. I think it's that they're just such huge icons that a lot of things they did get recycled or reworked."