Revelations from HYBE’s Leaked Documents: Artist Exploitation and Controversial Practices Exposed

On October 26, the South Korean National Assembly unveiled a staggering 2,000-page internal document from HYBE, sending shockwaves through the media landscape. This document, laced with sensitive details about leading K-pop groups and artists, has been disseminated gradually by the media, creating escalating curiosity among the public.

The information brought to light indicates that HYBE has a troubling tendency to compile negative information about rival artists, while also speaking disparagingly about its own stars, including BTS, NewJeans, and SEVENTEEN. The release of these internal documents has incited significant backlash from various fan communities. By October 29, additional revelations intensified the scrutiny on HYBE’s purported tactics for handling scandals, leading to what netizens have dubbed the “abyss of scandal” surrounding South Korea’s foremost entertainment agency.

The following highlights from HYBE’s internal documents have particularly incensed netizens:

Leveraging Kim Garam’s School Violence Scandal for Disappointing PR for LE SSERAFIM

HYBE debuted LE SSERAFIM in May 2022, under the Source Music label, with six members, including Kim Garam, who subsequently exited due to a bullying scandal. The company faced major criticism for their slow response to her situation, especially after internal files suggested that they had viewed Garam’s scandal as a competitive opportunity against IVE. Reports claim that senior personnel regarded Garam as a mere “pawn,” prioritizing publicity over safeguarding her, inspired by the hype around aespa’s debut, which they perceived as “free advertising.” This strategy appeared aimed at fostering a rivalry with IVE to benefit LE SSERAFIM.

“Prior to aespa’s debut, false rumors circulated on Instiz, which ultimately acted as promotional leverage. The phrase ‘defeat IVE’ inscribed on the board created a competitive atmosphere even before LE SSERAFIM stepped onto the scene, which was advantageous for the new girl group. This division between Jang Wonyoung & An Yujin and Sakura & Kim Chaewon could enhance the competitive narrative against other rookie girl groups.

Furthermore, the blackboard note was created before Garam’s school transfer, so it has no ties to her. If the speculations regarding Garam’s exclusion from IVE are unfounded, this situation might generate intriguing scenarios, like performing IVE’s songs in response to naysayers.”

– Excerpt from HYBE’s internal report

Diminishing V’s Album Success and Utilizing Dating Rumors for BTS Members’ Privacy

Despite BTS playing a pivotal role in Big Hit’s success, they allegedly faced negligence at the hands of HYBE. Fans expressed outrage over reports that the company attempted to diminish BTS’s impact, using them as shields against scandals and neglecting to defend them from controversy. Reports indicate that HYBE regarded V’s 2023 solo album, Layover, as underwhelming, reflecting in a significant deficit of 800,000 copies, while also allegedly permitting derogatory online comments regarding his collaborations outside of Big Hit. Furthermore, the management reportedly refrained from addressing V’s dating rumors with BLACKPINK’s Jennie, under the claim that it might afford other BTS members some reprieve from scrutiny.

“I perceive that V’s dating rumors might actually provide the other members a brief respite concerning their personal lives. If V is indeed in a sincere relationship, then there’s no justification for the public to fixate on other speculative pairings.”

– Excerpt from HYBE’s internal report

Claims of “Inhumane” Treatment Towards SEVENTEEN

In August 2023, SEVENTEEN encountered a crisis when rumors about member Joshua’s dating life spread widely. The gossip significantly impacted Joshua due to his strong female fanbase. As a response, some of SEVENTEEN’s Chinese fans employed trucks to display critical messages outside HYBE’s headquarters for several days, demanding Joshua’s ouster from the group, marking it as his biggest career crisis in ten years.

Despite the escalating situation, both Pledis Entertainment and HYBE neglected to defend their artist. The matter only came to the fore when Joshua broke down emotionally in front of thousands of fans during the Follow Tokyo concert in September 2023. Nearly six months later, Pledis finally announced legal measures against unfounded rumors, including the dating allegations concerning Joshua, finally alleviating some concerns.

At the time of Joshua’s scandal, Seungkwan was reportedly on a health-related break, and although not officially confirmed, fans speculated that Seungkwan’s hiatus resulted from the grief over the passing of his close friend Moonbin from ASTRO. Reportedly, HYBE exploited the timing of Seungkwan’s absence to divert public attention from Joshua’s ongoing troubles. This claim surfaced within the extensive 2,000-page internal document that is currently making headlines.

According to the report, HYBE allegedly leveraged the camaraderie among SEVENTEEN’s 13 members by positioning Seungkwan’s announcement of his return as a distraction from Joshua’s scandal. Notably, this report was dated August 16, 2023, coinciding with Seungkwan’s message to fans about his comeback. HYBE faced allegations of being “inhumane” and indifferent towards their artists’ emotional well-being.

Rather than addressing and investigating the situation or issuing a timely defense for Joshua, it’s alleged that HYBE’s management endeavored to “cover up” the issues by capitalizing on Seungkwan’s situation during a delicate time. This disclosure left fans of SEVENTEEN feeling betrayed and heartbroken for their idols.

“The bond among the members is crucial to the group’s value, thus the notion that ‘Joshua should leave the group (due to the dating rumor)’ is not a prevalent opinion. Yet, this incident could adversely affect the fandom, making it essential to establish specific ‘markers’ to facilitate the fans’ healing process.

In Japan, Joshua’s popularity has surged through his coupling with Jeonghan, hence it is vital to address this gap. Seungkwan’s return aligns perfectly, as the Yoon Jeonghan & Boo Seungkwan duo is currently gaining traction, so uniting the two would be advantageous.

Even fans who rapidly forgave Joshua have treasured moments when he showed concern for Seungkwan. Seungkwan’s presence can remind fans of Joshua’s significance in the group. A simple post from Seungkwan on Weverse may effectively alter the fanbase’s sentiment,”

– Excerpt from HYBE’s internal report

Artists Advocate for Justice

In the wake of growing public discontent, Seungkwan took to Instagram on October 29, sharing a heartfelt message: “Do not exploit artists.” His comments validated fan suspicions regarding HYBE’s treatment of its stars, expressing a desire for proper respect, stating, “Idols deserve better treatment,” and “We are not mere objects for your usage and enjoyment.”

Following Seungkwan’s statement, Jungkook also voiced his frustration amid the controversy surrounding NewJeans with the assertion that “Artists are innocent,” signaling frustration with the company’s handling of matters.

Confronting the mounting public outcry, HYBE CEO Park Jae-sang issued an apology on October 29 to the affected artists and announced the termination of staff involved in generating the negative reports. He recognized the damaging remarks in the documents about K-pop artists, and expressed remorse for any misinformation causing distress to innocent artists and personnel. Park Jae-sang stated that HYBE has made formal apologies to the management of external artists affected by the revelations. Nonetheless, criticism regarding HYBE’s “inhumane” practices continues unabated.

“I sincerely apologize to the artists, industry stakeholders, and fans regarding the internal document from HYBE highlighted during the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee’s audit on October 24.

I take full responsibility for the oversight that permitted a document containing harsh critiques and personal commentary about K-pop artists to circulate. I am particularly sorry for the erroneous claims about managing public opinion that has caused misunderstandings and distress to innocent artists and their teams.

We extend our heartfelt apologies to external artists who were mentioned in the document and affected by its content. We have also reached out to external management companies for direct apologies. Moreover, we deeply regret the distress caused to all HYBE Music Group artists due to our mismanagement.

I acknowledge the leadership’s failure to comprehend the gravity of this issue upon receiving the document, and as CEO, I have promptly halted the creation of similar internal reports. I assure you that measures will be taken to enhance our regulations and strengthen internal oversight to prevent such incidents in the future.”

– HYBE CEO Park Jae Sang

Source: K14

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