ARMY DEFENDS BTS AGAINST AGENCY HYBE AMID GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION, DEMANDS APOLOGY FROM SOUTH KOREAN MINISTRY OF CULTURE
The South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced that it will investigate allegations of chart-rigging, known as sajaegi in Korea, by BTS's agency Hybe, formerly Big Hit Entertainment. The move follows a petition requesting an inquiry into why the agency was blackmailed for chart-rigging practices and subsequently paid off the blackmailers in 2017, reported JoogAngDaily.
The case will be handed over to the Korea Creative Content Agency (Kocca), a state-run institution responsible for overseeing popular culture in Korea. Kocca will conduct a thorough investigation and demand answers from Hybe once the ministry gives the order.
The controversy resurfaced after online posts, last weekend, claimed that Hybe was blackmailed by an individual surnamed Lee and three accomplices in 2017 for allegedly employing “expedient marketing strategies” while promoting BTS's album in 2015. Lee was sentenced to a year in prison, while the other three received fines. The court’s ruling specifically mentioned the term ‘sajaegi marketing,’ stating that Lee had made a ‘sajaegi marketing deal’ with Big Hit Entertainment and threatened the company based on that agreement.
Hybe has denied the allegations and stated that it has reported malicious posts defaming the boy band. The company has vowed to continue monitoring online communities to prevent further harm to its artists.
As the South Korean government investigates allegations of chart-rigging by BTS's agency, the group's dedicated fanbase, known as the Army, has taken to social media to defend their idols. Using the hashtag 'South Korea apologise to BTS,' fans are pushing back against the claims of chart manipulation, asserting that the group's success is a result of hard work and quality music.
Army has made it clear that their support lies with BTS, not Hype, with ‘We are with BTS, not Hybe’ trending on social media. It has demanded that the group be separated from the ongoing controversy. On Friday (May 3), fans took out a full-page advertisement on the South Korean publication Joongang Ilbo, demanding Hybe to stop the media play that uses BTS as a shield against negative internal and external issues.
“We support BTS, not HYBE. A label that doesn't protect its artistes has no reason to exist. Protecting its artistes is a label's most basic obligation and BTS' label is not fulfilling this obligation,” the advertisement read. The same day, fans gathered outside Hybe's Seoul headquarters, displaying wreaths and electronic signboards with messages of protest.
Despite the backlash from fans, Hybe has denied the accusations but is yet to comment further. Currently, all BTS members -- RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, are fulfilling their mandatory military service and are expected to reunite in 2025. In the meantime, Army remains steadfast in their support of the group, as they continue to call for an apology from the South Korean government.
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2024-05-06T11:32:17Z dg43tfdfdgfd