Ditto by NewJeans is something I have never seen before in K-Pop. The thing that makes Ditto truly special lies in it's story. One eye-opening story that is about parasocial relationship and it will change how you view K-Pop forever.

Ditto tells the story of a woman named Heesoo who was watching back a recording of her back when she was still in school. As we watched together, we were first introduced to five of her friends that is the NewJeans members themselves. From the recording we saw that they had a lot of fun back then where they were never sad, angry or disappointed. They were always smiling and every single clip showed that they were either dancing, laughing or joking. Overall, they were just having the best time of their lives but for some reason throughout the music video we never really got to see much of Heesoo's face. It was always covered up with her camera or zoomed in. All we know about her is that she had a cast on her left arm and she was always holding a camera with her. She was never really involved in their activities. It was always her, her camera, and NewJeans.

We were then introduced to one guy who is the love interest of Heesoo. She was clearly interested in this guy but just like any other teenage girl out there, she tried her best to avoid him. So far this is looking pretty normal like your typical high school K-drama plot line. Right?

No, because it starts to get dark right after the deer sighting scene where the story took a whole different direction. It was revealed that after all this time, Heesoo our main character was actually alone. It was all in her mind, NewJeans were never there.

Ditto continues as we finally get to see for the first time ever where NewJeans members were expressing sadness toward Heesoo. While being comforted by her imaginary friends, Heesoo saw her love interest looking at her crying alone so she decided to run away. In Side B, we also get to see Heesoo stopped using her camera and slowly coming into the realization that she was alone.

The final turning point for Heesoo was when she watched NewJeans from distance as per usual but this time, no camera was involved and NewJeans was not even aware of her presence. She watched as NewJeans continued to dance, being happy, and expressive like nothing happened even though she was literally crying as well as having a breakdown moments ago. She continued to watch in disappointment and that was when she fully came into the realization that she was indeed alone giving birth to one of my favorite scenes from a K-pop music video where she dropped her camera and just like that the one thing that identifies her whole character is now destroyed.

This scene was followed by another deer sighting scene but this time it was in the school hallways and we finally saw Heesoo walking together with her love interest. The screen then slowly fades out back to the present time where adult Heesoo is watching back the recording and her eyes gets teary but at the same time she was also smiling. Then, the door suddenly opens as the memories of her past start entering her room.

Ditto by NewJeans are trying to tell a story about K-pop fans who got into K-pop when they were searching for an escape from real life. Heesoo represents K-pop fans, NewJeans represent K-pop idols, and Heesoo's love interest represents real life as well as the challenges it brings. Heesoo just like many of us was going through something tough in her life that was slowing her down which is symbolized by the cast in her left arm. She tried to find an escape by finding something that can bring back a little bit of joy in her life and that is where NewJeans came in. NewJeans did manage to put a smile back to Heesoo's face to the point she became obsessed with them. She starts avoiding real life because she already felt comfortable and happy with the presence of NewJeans so there is no need for her to face on real life that would only give her hard times or that is what she taught to herself.

Reality hits her hard when she is crying and she needs physical presence. NewJeans are not going to be there for her. She realized that she cannot live without NewJeans but NewJeans can live totally fine without her. She realized that at the end of the day, she and NewJeans will always be separated by her camera. Her camera represents our phone, laptop and TV. She realized that after all this time she was just escaping. She was still alone and her real life problems were still there. Even though she felt happier, in reality nothing in her life change.

She decided to follow her intuition that is to quit K-pop and face on real life. She did return to K-pop eventually, crying tears of joy implying the fact that she did not regret the experience. What NewJeans are trying to convey from Ditto is to use K-pop in the right way. Use it as a temporary escape or a mood booster to help you face on real life. At the end of the day, you have to go through a process called life. As much as these K-pop idols want to love you, they can't. As much as they want to know you, they can't. As much as they want to help you, they can't.

Guess what, K-pop will always be there for you. You can always come back to it but real life? They will grow with you. If you don't handle and face them now, you will regret it later.


NewJeans [kprofiles.com]
Minji [kprofiles.com]
Hanni [kprofiles.com]
Danielle [kprofiles.com]
Haerin [kprofiles.com]
Hyein [kprofiles.com]


Itzy [kprofiles.com]
Yeji [kprofiles.com]
Lia [kprofiles.com]
Ryujin [kprofiles.com]
Chaeryeong [kprofiles.com]
Yuna [kprofiles.com]


Stayc [kprofiles.com]
Sumin [kprofiles.com]
Park Sieun [kprofiles.com]
Isa [kprofiles.com]
Seeun [kprofiles.com]
Yoon [kprofiles.com]
J [kprofiles.com]