SEVENTEEN Addresses Accusations of Fake Popularity with a Shocking Decision

Ever since their 10th mini album, *FML*, was released in April 2023, SEVENTEEN’s popularity has surged, resulting in record-breaking physical album sales of 6.2 million copies.

In October 2023, SEVENTEEN continued their successful streak by releasing their 11th mini album, *Seventeenth Heaven*. The album sold 5 million copies in its first week, setting a new record and solidifying the group’s status as the world’s top-selling album artist of 2023, as declared by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

In 2015, SEVENTEEN made their debut and gradually gained success. Despite coming from a small company, they faced challenges in establishing themselves in the highly competitive K-pop industry. In 2020, their agency Pledis was acquired by HYBE Corporation, placing SEVENTEEN under the ownership of Bang Si-hyuk’s conglomerate.

During the end of April 2024, SEVENTEEN made a highly-anticipated return with their Best Album, titled “17 Is Right Here,”and their lead single “Maestro.”The album exceeded expectations by selling 3 million copies within the first week. Unfortunately, the group found themselves embroiled in a controversy involving HYBE and Min Hee-jin, causing them to become caught in the middle.

The ongoing feud between HYBE and Min Hee-jin has brought to light numerous controversial aspects of the K-pop industry, such as plagiarism, imitation, and the manipulation of achievements. A notable accusation made by Min Hee-jin was “sales manipulation,”a fraudulent tactic used to boost album sales. As a result, there has been much speculation surrounding the true accomplishments of HYBE’s artists, including SEVENTEEN.

According to various K-pop forums, there were accusations from anti-fans that SEVENTEEN had manipulated their album sales, leading many to question the boy group’s status as a million-selling artist. These speculations and attacks on the 13 members sparked doubts about their true popularity and success. The anti-fans claimed that SEVENTEEN’s streaming performance did not align with their high album sales, suggesting the possibility of manipulation.

A viral post circulated claiming that SEVENTEEN had manipulated their album sales, stating, “Given their immense influence, it’s not surprising that they (SEVENTEEN) would top the Billboard 200 and have the ability to hold stadium tours worldwide. It seems unlikely for SEVENTEEN, a group that hasn’t reached the same level of popularity as EXO, BTS, or Wanna One, to have achieved such high sales not just in Asia, but also in Western countries comparable to Taylor Swift.”

Even statistics were compiled by some to showcase the difference in album sales and streaming figures, shedding light on the questionable aspects of SEVENTEEN’s million-selling status. Antifans took things a step further by distorting the group’s success, alleging that they achieved it through a tactic of “false popularity”by taking advantage of HYBE’s media manipulation and inflated sales numbers rather than genuine popularity.

Despite facing doubts of fake popularity, SEVENTEEN had a one-of-a-kind response that silenced their anti-fans. Most notably, the group recently held two back-to-back concerts at Japan’s Nissan Stadium, solidifying their place as the second K-pop group, after the iconic TVXQ, to perform at the prestigious venue with a staggering capacity of 72,000 audience members. This stadium, known as the “dream stage”for all Asian stars, holds even more significance as the boy group achieved this feat on the exact date of their 9th debut anniversary.

Despite the restricted view areas, both nights of concerts at Nissan saw a full capacity crowd of over 70,000 fans. The sight of the sea of Carat Bongs (SEVENTEEN’s lightsticks) with blue and pink lights shining in Nissan Stadium filled fans with immense pride, creating an unforgettable moment in the group’s nine-year journey.

The rapid sell-out of SEVENTEEN’s concert tickets was yet another element that left people in awe. Despite the two large shows at Nissan selling out all tickets, including those for restricted view areas, there were still not enough tickets to accommodate all fans. This is a clear indication of the growth of SEVENTEEN’s fandom, particularly in key markets such as Korea, China, and Japan. Even after the tickets were sold out, approximately 20,000 individuals were still searching for tickets through Japanese ticketing sites.

SEVENTEEN officially wrapped up their Asian Follow tour with two final nights at Nissan, bringing the total number of shows to 28. The tour is projected to have a total of 1 million attendees and revenue of over 100 million dollars, a noteworthy achievement for a tour that only took place in one continent. The final four performances in Japan were a successful conclusion to the Follow tour.

Original source: K14