Revisiting the Allegations of BTS’ Digital Sajaegi
In recent times, BTS has found themselves embroiled in unprecedented controversies as past issues resurface. These controversies stem from the ongoing conflict between HYBE and ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. Despite not being directly involved, BTS has become the main focus, even though all seven members are currently on hiatus due to military service.
Despite a number of controversies surrounding BTS, one of the most significant is the allegation of digital sajaegi. This issue first emerged in a 2017 lawsuit where an individual, known as A, was found guilty of extortion in connection with illegal marketing schemes for Big Hit. As a result, A was sentenced to one year in prison for threats against company employees and embezzlement of 57 million won.
Despite being a victim of fraudulent marketing for Big Hit and BTS, A’s involvement in this case has raised allegations against BTS for potentially hiring a third party to manipulate their digital rankings.
The renewed focus on this matter has redirected the public’s doubts towards BTS’s achievements. This damages the group’s reputation and has left fans outraged. In response, fans are actively presenting counterarguments and defending BTS. After a period of silence, HYBE has recently refuted all allegations and has taken legal action against any attacks on BTS, prompting fans to speak out.
Despite the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of South Korea’s announcement to investigate allegations of digital sajaegi surrounding BTS on May 2nd, suspicions continue to remain. The resurfacing of this case after eight years is a result of intense public scrutiny, with some even petitioning to revoke BTS’s commendations due to this incident.
Netizens Suspect SEVENTEEN of Manipulating Album Sales
Despite the ongoing controversies surrounding BTS, SEVENTEEN is now also facing criticism regarding their album sales. On April 29th, the popular boy group from Pledis Entertainment released their comeback album, “Best Album: 17 Is Right Here”, which has already sold over 2 million copies on its first day. This impressive achievement has made SEVENTEEN the first K-pop artist to achieve such high sales with a compilation album.
Nevertheless, the impressive sales numbers have sparked discussions. A popular topic on Korean online forums is questioning the level of fame of SEVENTEEN. One post states, “Given their significant influence, SEVENTEEN could potentially dominate the Billboard 200 and even tour stadiums worldwide. It seems unlikely for them to only achieve such high sales in Asia.”
Despite their success being primarily concentrated in Korea, China, and Japan, many skeptics question how SEVENTEEN could compete with Taylor Swift in Western countries. It is uncommon for a group to achieve such high sales without having a similarly explosive level of success in the US or Europe.
In the comments section, there is a lot of speculation about whether SEVENTEEN’s success has been artificially inflated since joining HYBE in 2020. One netizen commented, “I agree with this. When HYBE’s acquisition of the group was announced, their sales suddenly jumped to 700 thousand in the first week, even though they didn’t have any major hits. It seems suspicious that they have continued to rise in popularity ever since.”
Although fans have expressed opposition, claiming that the album sales numbers are compiled from multiple distribution sources, making it hard to manipulate, doubts still linger.
Despite this, in the year 2023, SEVENTEEN achieved record-breaking revenue and gained a surge in popularity. Their two albums, “FML”and “Seventeenth Heaven”, sold a combined total of 5 million copies and secured the #2 spot on the Billboard 200 chart. Additionally, according to IFPI’s year-end statistics, SEVENTEEN surpassed even Taylor Swift in terms of album accomplishments.
SEVENTEEN’s concert tickets have consistently been in high demand and often sell out quickly. Most recently, their Follow Again to Seoul tour filled a stadium with a capacity of 60 thousand spectators over the course of two nights. Their popularity extends beyond Korea, as they are also scheduled to perform at Japan’s Nissan Stadium. With a strong purchasing power, Asian fans from countries such as Korea, China, and Japan are known to eagerly support the group.
Despite facing criticism for environmental negligence due to images of SEVENTEEN’s album boxes piled up on the streets of Japan, it is important to note that this also signifies their impressive album sales. Therefore, any doubts or suspicions of SEVENTEEN manipulating their album sales are unfounded.
The source is K14.
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