HYBE denies allegations linking BTS to a pseudo-religious group and vows legal action

K-pop boy group BTS / Courtesy of Bighit Music

By KTimes

Amid increasing internal disputes between HYBE and its subsidiary Ador, which manages the group NewJeans, rumors are spreading online that HYBE is linked to a pseudo-religious organization and has been involved in illegal music chart manipulation linked to BTS.

On April 28, HYBE responded to these allegations, stating that the suspicions expressed were “completely unfounded”. The company promised to take strong legal action against any infringement of their artists’ rights.

Observers speculate that these accusations could be a retaliation by those who previously accused Ador’s CEO Min Hee-jin of practicing “shamanic management,” signaling a counterattack from those seeking to smear HYBE.

On April 27, some online communities raised suspicions about HYBE’s long-standing partnership with a meditation group, claiming that some members of BTS and Tomorrow group.

Allegations also surfaced that BTS members directly or indirectly promoted this group, which is publicly known as a meditation group but also has characteristics of a religious organization.

HYBE is facing accusations linking its artists and associated acts to a pseudo-religious group. The controversy includes the use of terms commonly associated with the group, particularly in the girl group GFriend’s latest album, managed by HYBE’s subsidiary Source Music, and the title track “MAGO”, which shares terminology with the group’s religious language .

Similar claims have been raised regarding the debut song “Magnetic” by upstart girl group ILLIT from HYBE’s Belift Lab, which reportedly shares its name with an exercise developed by the group.

An exterior view of the main building of HYBE, the entertainment giant behind K-pop supergroup BTS, in Seoul/Yonhap

Stern warning against accusers

On the same day that the allegations linked Hybe to a meditation group, suspicions of BTS’ involvement in illegal music chart manipulation and concept theft also surfaced.

In 2017, an individual identified only as A was sentenced to a year in prison on charges of coercive tactics used in the marketing of a BTS album, with A claiming to have been forced to participate in illegal streaming practices to boost BTS’ popularity to stimulate. album sales.

Hybe, formerly known as Bighit Entertainment, clarified at the time that their actions were “normal online viral marketing.”

Additionally, a magazine editor identified as B recently spread accusations via social media that Hybe has stolen his ideas, gaining traction on online communities, blogs and social media platforms.

No concrete evidence has been provided regarding these two issues, and Hybe is known to be suspicious of the simultaneous emergence of these seemingly unrelated allegations.

Bighit Music, led by Hybe, announced via fan community platform Weverse that “it has come to our attention that organizational efforts aimed at smearing and defaming the artists have escalated in recent weeks.”

The company said the company “considers these actions a serious violation of artists’ rights and will respond decisively by working with another law firm” to strengthen existing legal measures.

“We collect evidence of malicious messages through real-time monitoring,” the report said. “We will maintain a zero-tolerance policy and tackle this matter rigorously, without leniency or settlements.”

This article from Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.