HYBE Fires Executive Amid Public Backlash Over Controversial 18,000-Page Internal Document

On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, Daily Sports disclosed that HYBE dismissed the executive responsible for the controversial internal document. This report came to light during the National Assembly Audit on October 24, as presented by Min Hyun-bae, a representative from the Democratic Party of Korea. The internal report is said to comprise 18,000 pages, with only 2,000 pages disclosed at the time of the audit.

Following the audit revelations, HYBE—the management company behind popular K-pop acts like BTS, SEVENTEEN, LE SSERAFIM, NewJeans, Enhypen, TXT, fromis_9, among others—has faced a series of controversies. The document allegedly included disparaging remarks about the appearances and heights of Stray Kids members, as well as comments regarding NCT’s Haechan, and even downplaying BLACKPINK’s achievements.

Additionally, the report mentioned how HYBE allowed rival fanbases of BTS’ Jimin and Jungkook to clash on DC Gallery. There were also claims that HYBE analyzed content from the controversial YouTube channel Taldeok Camp, managed by Sojang.

“We are not your items”— SEVENTEEN’s Seungkwan addresses the controversy on Instagram

On October 29, 2024, Seungkwan, a member of SEVENTEEN, took to Instagram to express his thoughts on the ongoing issues surrounding the K-pop industry. SEVENTEEN operates under Pledis Entertainment, a subsidiary of HYBE.

In his heartfelt message, Seungkwan conveyed that he could no longer remain silent as his bandmates, fans, and fellow artists were affected by the unfolding scandal.

As translated by Google Translate, he stated:

“Observing all that has transpired, I have attempted to steady my mind and consistently put in effort alongside my members. However, I can no longer simply watch these events unfold and hope the situation resolves itself. For those who are suffering — my fans, my members, and all my peers working diligently even now — I feel compelled to speak out.”

He underlined the hard work and dedication of his band members and other artists, emphasizing that they are not mere “items”subject to exploitation for others’ narratives.

Seungkwan further articulated in his post:

“The members, along with my colleagues and friends in this vast K-pop industry, are individuals who genuinely and passionately love their craft. Their earnestness can lead to hurt… I want to clarify this: They are not just people who navigate this industry without struggle or can be easily criticized by you.”

He continued:

“I urge you to treat idols with the respect they deserve. They should not be objects of convenience in our stories. For us and for other artists, we are not your items. Please don’t believe you can use and enjoy our contributions at your leisure.”

In related news, SEVENTEEN’s Jeonghan commenced his mandatory military service on September 26, 2024. The band also released their 12th mini-album, SPILL THE FEELS, on October 14.

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