HYBE, the agency behind BTS, is under fire for its chairman’s guitar performance at the Weverse Con Festival, perceived lack of effort in protecting NewJeans, and delayed response to false information. Calls for reconciliation from Min Hee-jin have not yet prompted significant action from HYBE.
HYBE’s Public Relations Misstep
A recent article in the Korean newspaper “Ilgan Sports” titled “HYBE, It’s Time to Stop Using Bang Si-hyuk’s Guitar Playing as a Publicity Stunt” has sparked controversy surrounding HYBE Corporation, the agency behind the global K-pop group BTS. The article criticized HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk’s surprise appearance at the “2024 Weverse Con Festival” on June 16th, where he performed a guitar solo alongside JYP Entertainment’s Park Jin-young. The article argued that HYBE should focus on addressing its current internal issues rather than engaging in such public displays.
Min Hee-jin Fans’ Response
The article also highlighted the concerns of Min Hee-jin fans, particularly regarding the absence of HYBE subsidiary ADOR’s girl group NewJeans at the Weverse Con Festival. While ADOR explained that NewJeans skipped the event due to preparations for their Japanese concert, fans believe that HYBE should have prioritized NewJeans’ participation to ease the ongoing tensions between Bang Si-hyuk and Min Hee-jin.
Belift Lab’s Controversial Video
Furthermore, the article raised concerns about a video uploaded by HYBE subsidiary Belift Lab ahead of the Weverse Con Festival. The video, which suggested that the group ILLIT was copying NewJeans, received negative feedback from the public, with a significant disparity between likes and dislikes on YouTube.
Inadequate Protection of NewJeans
The article also criticized HYBE’s perceived lack of effort in protecting NewJeans, citing the “Middle School 7th Grader” YouTube channel that spread false news about the group. Despite HYBE’s shared service system, which provides PR, legal, and financial support to ADOR with ADOR bearing the cost, fans believe that HYBE’s response to the channel was inadequate. While HYBE successfully obtained the channel’s identity through a US court order in April, they failed to inform the public until the information was leaked through various media outlets, including the New York Times and 404Media, and subsequently spread to online communities.
Community Backlash
The Ilgan Sports article was met with a barrage of criticism on the online community theqoo, a popular platform for Min Hee-jin fans. The main criticism centered on HYBE’s shared service system, where ADOR bears the cost but receives subpar service. Additionally, fans criticized HYBE’s delayed response to media inquiries regarding the “Middle School 7th Grader” channel.
Stalemate in the Min Hee-jin Conflict
Despite Min Hee-jin’s efforts to reconcile, HYBE has yet to take any significant action. Based on current developments, it appears that HYBE is unwilling to compromise and prefers a legal resolution.
Conclusion
HYBE’s current situation highlights the need for effective communication and a genuine willingness to address internal conflicts. The company’s public image and the well-being of its artists depend on its ability to navigate these challenges effectively.
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