HYBE Refutes Allegations of VIP Membership on Sojang’s YouTube Channel: “The Accusations Are Not True”

On October 29, 2024, the Korean news platform Naver reported that HYBE decisively dismissed allegations regarding its alleged subscription to Sojang, a well-known YouTuber notorious for spreading harmful content about various artists, including those affiliated with HYBE. This response came following reports from October 28 that suggested HYBE had become a VIP member of Sojang’s channel.

In light of the situation, an official from HYBE addressed these claims in a statement to Ilgan Sports, a daily outlet focusing on sports and entertainment. The representative from HYBE stated:

“These accusations are unfounded.”

Netizens Point to a Possible Link Between HYBE and Sojang

On October 28, one netizen took to social media, alleging that HYBE was a paid subscriber to the controversial YouTuber. They accompanied their claims with a screenshot from Sojang’s YouTube community feed where the YouTuber made an announcement stating:

“We are delighted to have a significant entertainment company join Sojang as a member.”The message continued, “It could be one of these companies – SM, YG, JYP, or HYBE.”

The netizen produced a recent internal document from HYBE that mentioned SEVENTEEN’s Jeonghan, which they claimed as evidence that HYBE had indeed subscribed to the channel.

They argued that HYBE likely has a premium membership, citing the company’s ability to access information not available to standard subscribers. Nonetheless, HYBE has strongly countered these claims.

Moreover, HYBE has filed eight lawsuits in the Seoul Western District Court against seven YouTube channels, including Sojang, which they labeled as “cyber distractors”for spreading baseless rumors about celebrities.

Conversely, Sojang is facing legal challenges for defamation. A trial concerning Ms. Park (the YouTuber) charged with slander and breaching the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization was conducted on October 23 at the Incheon District Court’s Criminal Division 11.

The prosecution has requested a four-year prison sentence for Ms. Park, along with a fine of 21 million KRW, emphasizing that she willfully disseminated false footage and consistently tarnished the victims’ reputations.

The indictment also noted the significant impact of Ms. Park’s actions on the operations of the victims’ management agencies, highlighting her operation of a paid subscription service that focused persistently on the private lives of her targets.

Historically, this YouTuber has produced and shared videos containing incorrect information about several prominent figures, including EXO’s Suho, Aespa’s Karina, IVE’s Jang Wonyoung, BTS’s V, and many more, generating substantial revenue. Reports indicate that she has amassed approximately 250 million KRW from these activities.

With hefty penalties looming, the YouTuber now faces four years of imprisonment alongside a substantial fine. Additionally, she has been sued for defamation by other artists, including IVE’s Wonyoung, who has been instrumental in initiating investigations against Sojang.

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