On October 26, the South Korean National Assembly released a 2,000-page internal document from HYBE, which became a true media shockwave. Containing sensitive information about top K-pop groups and artists, the media has been releasing the contents bit by bit rather than in one sweep, drawing increasing attention from the public.
The revealed information shows HYBE’s reported habit of gathering unflattering details about rival artists, discussing competitors and even its own artists like BTS, NewJeans, and SEVENTEEN in harsh terms. The release of these internal documents has fueled criticism from various fandoms. On October 29, further details emerged, sparking intense media focus on HYBE’s alleged strategies for managing scandals and pushing artists into controversy. Netizens have dubbed this the “abyss of scandal” for South Korea’s leading entertainment company.
Below are the notable contents regarding the company’s idols that angered netizens, as revealed in HYBE’s internal documents:
Exploiting Kim Garam’s school violence scandal as “dirty PR” for LE SSERAFIM
In May 2022, HYBE launched LE SSERAFIM under Source Music with 6 members, including Kim Garam, who soon left due to a school bullying scandal. HYBE’s delay in handling her case drew backlash toward the group. This resurfaced when internal documents revealed that HYBE allegedly saw Garam’s scandal as an opportunity to fuel competition with IVE. Senior staff reportedly viewed Garam as a “pawn,” prioritizing exposure over protection, inspired by aespa’s debut rumors, which were seen as “free publicity.” The report suggests they aimed to establish a rivalry with IVE to benefit LE SSERAFIM.
“Before aespa’s debut, Instiz was abuzz with false rumors, which ultimately turned into a promotional effect for aespa. Additionally, the phrase ‘defeat IVE’ written on the board naturally led to a rivalry with IVE even before LE SSERAFIM’s debut, which was advantageous for the rookie group. Since it has already set up a divide between Jang Wonyoung & An Yujin and Sakura & Kim Chaewon, publicly framing this as a competitive scenario that surpasses other rookie girl groups could foster a positive trend.
Moreover, the blackboard photo was written before Garam transferred schools, so this is unrelated to her. If rumors about Garam being removed from IVE’s lineup are untrue, this could even lead to interesting moments, such as covering IVE’s songs to counter the rumor spreaders”.
– HYBE’s internal report
Undermining V’s album and using dating rumors to allow BTS members a break
Despite BTS’s role in Big Hit’s rise, they reportedly faced mistreatment from HYBE. Fans expressed anger over HYBE’s alleged attempts to downplay BTS’s influence, using them as shields for scandals and failing to protect them from controversies. Recent reports revealed HYBE viewed V’s 2023 solo album, Layover, as underperforming, resulting in an 800,000-copy shortage, and allegedly allowed negative online comments because he collaborated outside Big Hit. HYBE also reportedly stayed silent on V’s dating rumors with BLACKPINK’s Jennie, reasoning that it might grant other BTS members some privacy.
“I also feel that V’s dating rumors might actually give the other members a bit of a break in terms of their private lives. If V is in a genuine relationship, there’s no reason for people to focus on other virtual OTPs on DC Gallery”
– HYBE’s internal report
Accused of “inhumane” treatment toward SEVENTEEN
In August 2023, SEVENTEEN faced a crisis when dating rumors surrounding member Joshua spread across platforms. As a member with a strong female fanbase, the dating scandal hit Joshua hard. At the time, a portion of SEVENTEEN’s Chinese fans hired trucks to display messages outside HYBE headquarters, demanding Joshua’s removal from the group over multiple days. This became the most significant crisis for Joshua in their decade-long career.
Amid the backlash, neither Pledis Ent. nor HYBE took any steps to protect their artist. The issue was only addressed when Joshua broke down in tears in front of tens of thousands of fans at the Follow Tokyo concert in September 2023. Nearly six months later, Pledis finally announced legal action against baseless rumors, including Joshua’s dating scandal, putting suspicions to rest at last.
When Joshua’s scandal broke, Seungkwan was on a break for health reasons. Although not officially confirmed, fans speculated that Seungkwan’s hiatus was due to the shock of his close friend Moonbin from ASTRO’s passing. HYBE allegedly exploited Seungkwan’s situation to divert attention from Joshua’s scandal. This claim was revealed in a 2,000-page internal report currently circulating in the media.
HYBE is said to have taken advantage of the close bond between SEVENTEEN’s 13 members by having Seungkwan announce his return to distract fans from Joshua’s controversy. The report was dated August 16, 2023, the same day Seungkwan messaged fans about his return. HYBE faced backlash for being “inhumane” and disregarding their artist’s emotional wounds.
Instead of investigating and issuing a timely statement to protect Joshua, HYBE’s management allegedly “covered up” by leveraging Seungkwan during a challenging time. This revelation left SEVENTEEN fans heartbroken and saddened for their idols.
“The connection among the members is crucial to the group’s value, so the opinion that ‘Joshua should leave the group (due to the dating rumor)’ is not a primary viewpoint. However, the incident could hurt the fandom, so establishing certain ‘markers’ is necessary to help fans move on.
In Japan, Joshua’s popularity has surged through his pairing with Jeonghan, so addressing this gap is essential. For this reason, Seungkwan’s return is timely. The Yoon Jeonghan & Boo Seungkwan duo has recently gained attention, so combining the two would be beneficial.
Even fans who quickly forgave Joshua have particularly cherished moments of him caring for Seungkwan during . Seungkwan’s role is vital to remind fans of Joshua’s place in the group. A single post by Seungkwan on Weverse could effectively shift the fandom’s sentiment,”
– HYBE’s internal report
Artists Speak Out for Justice
Amidst the mounting public anger, Seungkwan posted a lengthy letter on Instagram early on October 29, stating, “Don’t exploit artists.” His words confirmed fans’ suspicions about HYBE’s treatment of its artists, as he expressed, “I hope idols won’t be treated lightly,” and “We are not objects to be used and enjoyed as you wish.”
Prior to Seungkwan, Jungkook also posted a strong message amid the criticism surrounding NewJeans, “Artists are innocent,” suggesting an underlying frustration with the company’s actions.
Facing public outrage, on October 29, HYBE CEO Park Jae-sang apologized to affected artists and announced the dismissal of employees responsible for negative reports. He acknowledged the documents’ hurtful comments about K-pop artists and expressed regret for misinformation that harmed innocent artists and staff. Park Jae-sang stated that HYBE has also apologized to external artists’ management. Despite this, public criticism of HYBE’s “inhumane” practices persists.
“I sincerely apologize to the artists, industry stakeholders, and fans regarding HYBE’s internal document that was discussed during the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee’s state audit on October 24.
I take full responsibility and acknowledge HYBE’s mistake for allowing a document that contained harsh comments and direct criticism toward K-pop artists, along with the personal opinions and assessments of the writer. I am especially sorry that false allegations regarding public opinion manipulation led to misunderstandings and harm to innocent artists and staff members.
We extend our official and heartfelt apologies to the artists outside our company who were mentioned in the document and affected by its content. We have also reached out privately to management companies to offer direct apologies. Additionally, we sincerely apologize to all HYBE Music Group artists who have had to endure criticism due to the company’s mistake.
I recognize that the leadership failed to grasp the severity of this matter when we received the document, and as CEO, I have immediately halted the writing of similar internal reports. I promise to establish clear guidelines and strengthen internal controls to prevent any recurrence of this situation.”
– HYBE CEO Park Jae Sang
Source: K14
