The music video for “ICONIC BY MISTAKE,” featuring KATSEYE, LE SSERAFIM, and ILLIT, has captured attention thanks to its different approach to KPop storytelling. The video’s director, Cody Critcheloe, recently spoke with Weverse Magazine, explaining the ideas behind the project and revealing that he wanted to challenge the industry’s traditional beauty standards. Instead of polished stages and glamorous settings, the director chose locations such as a cemetery, a dental clinic, and a storm-damaged cornfield to create an intriguing atmosphere that encouraged viewers to think differently.
“I wanted to break free from conventional standards of beauty, he revealed.
Critcheloe said one of KPop’s greatest strengths is allowing fans to discover their own interpretations of a story. However, he shared that the visual language used to tell those stories should remain unpredictable. The director also explained that the police officers appearing throughout the “ICONIC BY MISTAKE” music video represent the entertainment industry, where artists constantly face judgment and scrutiny. According to the visual creator, the important message is that artists should maintain their sense of self despite outside pressure.
“The police officers are a broad metaphor for the entertainment industry, where constant evaluation and scrutiny are repeated,” he affirmed. “What matters is the artists’ agency, remaining unshaken even under that gaze.”
In addition, the video rethinks symbols already familiar to fans of each group. LE SSERAFIM’s tombstone imagery, ILLIT’s wisdom tooth motif, and KATSEYE’s flames and stage visuals were put together into one common universe, while still preserving each girl group’s identity. The music video concludes with the artists gathered around a campfire, roasting marshmallows, and laughing together. Critcheloe described the scene as a symbol of connection and shared experiences, reflecting the sense of harmony that can emerge through creativity and collaboration.
Cody Critcheloe is a creator whose work expands through music video direction, photography, and music. He has collaborated with artists such as Perfume Genius, Robyn, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. His work with HYBE artists includes BTS’s J-HOPE’s “Killin’ It Girl (feat. GloRilla)” and KATSEYE’s “Touch” and “Gnarly.”
