The document, dated July 26, 2023, contained sections focused on EXO’s recent activities as well as Baekhyun’s personal efforts to engage with fans. One section specifically highlighted Baekhyun’s early-morning Instagram live broadcast on July 21, where he went through a stretching routine in his pajamas, allegedly reflecting his “desperation” to keep his fanbase engaged.
The document went on to draw a comparison between Baekhyun’s live broadcast and Jungkook’s, who also did a 7 AM livestream in June 2023. It labeled Baekhyun’s session as “overly casual” and suggested that he may have been influenced by Jungkook. The document speculated that Baekhyun’s actions were driven by anxiety over EXO’s inability to regain momentum post-comeback and noted his efforts as a sign of his “impatience” with the group’s status.
The leak quickly went viral, with both EXO-Ls (EXO’s fanbase) and ARMY (BTS’s fanbase) expressing confusion and frustration over HYBE’s analysis of Baekhyun’s harmless stretching session. Fans questioned why a simple broadcast would be subject to such scrutiny and criticized the agency for what they perceived as an unnecessary rivalry.
Adding to the controversy, EXO’s recent comeback had fans hoping for Baekhyun and D.O. unit to revive the group’s popularity. Instead, reports emerged that rather than bringing fans together, it may have intensified internal divides, leading to subtle competition between Baekhyun and D.O.’s fanbases.
Overall, the leaked HYBE document and ongoing discussions around Baekhyun’s recent activities have further fueled the tension between the two fandoms, raising questions over whether such comparisons are truly warranted, or if they are merely adding unnecessary drama to the K-pop industry.
Source: X, KrB
