SEVENTEEN Fandom Initiates Boycott of HYBE Over Alleged “Inhumane Actions”

On the 29th, the hashtag “#SEVENTEEN_LeaveHYBE” gained significant traction on X (formerly known as Twitter), likely in response to the recent backlash regarding HYBE’s internal document assessing artists’ appearances.

Fans of SEVENTEEN voiced their outrage, criticizing HYBE for what they termed “inhumane practices,” which included “tracking and promoting negative public relations for artists from competing companies, concealing instances of staff overwork fatalities, isolating their own talents, manipulating album sales and streaming figures, as well as exploiting external collaborators.”

Additionally, fans called for the resignation of those implicated, stating, “We are participating in this boycott with demands for HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk to return to South Korea and take part in the National Assembly audit, as well as address the investigation by the National Tax Service. We also insist on a thorough investigation into the individuals tied to HYBE’s ‘Music Industry Report’ and the resignation of those accountable.”

Earlier that day, SEVENTEEN’s Seungkwan expressed his deep concerns on social media, stating, “I am weary of the constant suffering inflicted upon us. Throughout these events, I have tried to maintain my composure with my group. However, we are not mere tools for your convenience.” He further remarked, “Stop inflicting wounds that cannot heal. I do not want our fans, my fellow members, and the dedicated staff who have always supported us to endure further pain.”

Seungkwan’s frustration, echoed by Carat, arose from a controversial report presented during the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee audit on the 24th. Titled “Weekly Music Industry Report,” the document contained callous evaluations of various idol group members’ appearances, including those from SEVENTEEN, alongside harsh critiques aimed at idols from other agencies. This prompted widespread discontent due to the severity of the assessments.

HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang offered a formal apology on the company’s website, stating, “We extend our sincerest apologies to the artists, industry partners, and fans for the inappropriate content in the company’s monitoring document. We acknowledge the errors in using provocative language, personal views, and unfiltered critiques within a formal report.” He emphasized that HYBE takes this incident very seriously.

As of the 29th, the author of the internal report has been relieved of their duties.

Source: Ilgan Sports

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