Epik High’s Tablo has addressed growing online nepotism accusations involving his daughter, Lee Haru, after she was credited as the sole lyricist for RIIZE’s upcoming track “Do Your Dance.” The song is part of RIIZE’s second mini-album II, set for release on June 15, and the credit quickly drew attention across K-pop communities, HallyuPulse reported.
Haru, who is the daughter of Tablo and actress Kang Hye Jung, has been known to fans since her childhood appearances on television, making her sudden entry into a major SM Entertainment release especially notable.
As discussions spread online, some users questioned whether her family background may have played a role in her getting the opportunity to submit lyrics for a high-profile boy group title track. Others, however, pointed to the evaluation process used by SM Entertainment.
Tablo stepped in to clarify the situation, saying Haru’s lyrics were selected through a blind review system. In this process, submissions are judged without revealing the identity of the writer, which he says ensured fairness in selection.
“Yep. That’s how she got picked,” Tablo said in response to an online post discussing the process.
Fans Split Over Haru’s RIIZE Songwriting Credit
The clarification quickly shifted public conversation, with many fans defending Haru and highlighting that blind evaluations are a common practice in the K-pop industry.
According to Koreaboo, some noted that even established writers and SM artists often go through the same system when submitting lyrics.
Still, not everyone agreed the debate was fully resolved. While many accepted that the blind review supports a merit-based outcome, others argued that access to the submission process itself may already require connections or industry awareness that is not easily available to everyone.
Adding to the discussion, some online commenters pointed out that aspiring lyricists often struggle to even get demo opportunities, making Haru’s access to a major agency submission pathway part of the broader controversy. Despite the debate, many fans also praised Haru’s achievement, especially given her young age.
“Do Your Dance” will mark her first solo lyricist credit for a title track, signaling a significant step in her growing involvement in music creation. This is not her first writing credit. Haru previously worked alongside Tablo on KiiiKiii’s “To Me From Me,” showing early signs of collaboration within the industry.