The Korean music industry is in shock as idols from HYBE face a widespread boycott, stemming from allegations related to leaked reports criticizing other companies’ artists. This information has been reported by Sports Seoul, revealing that reactions from other artists and companies within the industry have been “shocking” and “unacceptable.”
According to several sources, instead of focusing on developing their own artists, HYBE has been distributing materials that harshly criticize third-party artists. A representative from another company expressed disappointment, stating, “It’s frustrating to think that the entire industry has such reports. Even if they analyze, they should do it for their internal artists, not for third-party artists.”
These documents have not only caused outrage but also created a dilemma for idols, especially as they may have to promote together in the future. “Members of idol groups are quite close. During overlapping promotions, there are many factors that can enhance an artist’s visibility, such as collaborative stages or challenge clips. HYBE will face difficulties executing such projects,” a representative noted.
Not only companies but also the criticized artists are unhappy. An artist who has collaborated with HYBE commented, “I wonder if it’s really a trend in the industry to criticize so rudely. It’s too childish to criticize appearances instead of talent.” This sentiment may lead many artists to refuse participation in future collaborative activities with HYBE.
The reaction from the fan community has also been strong. Many fans expressed their outrage and called for a boycott of HYBE. “Of course, idols will no longer do challenges with them,” one fan stated. “No one wants to get involved with HYBE anymore,” another opinion shared.
Particularly, the criticism of other idols’ appearances has been viewed as petty and disrespectful. Comments such as “XX looks really foolish” in internal reports have left many feeling offended. A fan pleaded, “My bias is a host on a music show, and I’m just begging them to stay away from HYBE.”
This crisis not only reflects the tarnishing image of HYBE but also shows the strong backlash from both the music industry and fans. With negative allegations and poor strategies in managing artist images, it seems that HYBE must bear the consequences of its own actions.
Source: pannchoa
