Hybe Rebuked Over Internal Monitoring Report During National Assembly Audit

▲ This file photo shows the logo of Hybe. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- Hybe, one of South Korea’s leading entertainment agencies, came under scrutiny on October 24 during a National Assembly audit by the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee. 

The agency was criticized for creating an internal report that allegedly included derogatory comments about minors' appearances. The controversy escalated when Hybe issued a statement during the audit, prompting further backlash from committee members, leading to an eventual apology from Hybe’s COO, Kim Tae-ho.

According to materials presented by Min Hyung-bae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, Hybe’s internal "Industry Trends Review" contained harsh assessments of idol group members, such as "debuting them at an age when they look their worst," and "shockingly unattractive." While the report did not specify which artists were the subject of these comments, Min condemned the document, stating that it reflected a dehumanizing attitude towards minors in the industry.

In response, Kim explained that the report was not an official expression of Hybe's views but a compilation of online reactions and opinions. He clarified that these remarks were gathered from various online sources and were not representative of Hybe’s perspective. Despite this, the report sparked concerns over the agency’s approach to monitoring public opinion.

▲ This undated file photo shows the logo of K-pop giant Hybe. (Yonhap)

During the audit, Hybe released a statement explaining that the report was meant to provide internal staff with a summary of fan and industry reactions sourced from social media and community platforms. Hybe emphasized that the report was not an official reflection of the company's views and that they would hold accountable those responsible for leaking the document, which appeared to criticize their own artists.

The timing of this statement during the ongoing audit led to further condemnation from the committee, with some members criticizing the agency for attempting to undermine the audit’s significance. Jeon Jae-soo, the committee chair, chastised Hybe for issuing the statement mid-session, questioning whether the company took the National Assembly seriously. Kim later apologized, admitting that the timing was inappropriate and reaffirming Hybe’s respect for the audit process.

Min also raised concerns about Hybe’s album distribution practices, accusing the company of artificially inflating initial sales by attaching "returnable conditions" to album sales abroad. Kim acknowledged that a small percentage of albums had been sold under such conditions and assured the committee that this practice had been discontinued.

Additionally, Kim, who also serves as CEO of Belift Lab, was questioned regarding allegations of concept plagiarism between girl group ILLIT and NewJeans. Kim denied the accusations and revealed that Hybe had filed lawsuits against Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of ADOR, who had raised the plagiarism claims. Kim stated that Hybe was awaiting the court's decision and aimed to clear up the issue through legal channels.

▲ ILLIT, a K-pop girl group from Hybe, is seen in this photo provided by its management label Belift Lab. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Culture Minister Yoo In-chon, who attended the audit, also addressed broader concerns about the K-pop industry, acknowledging the challenges of regulating issues such as tampering and unethical practices, which have recently come to light in cases involving other groups like Fifty Fifty. He emphasized the need for self-regulation within the industry but noted the legal difficulties in addressing such problems comprehensively.

During a National Assembly audit, Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, expressed concerns over Hybe's album distribution practices, referring to the company as an international entity, not just a domestic one. He stressed that such practices could harm the company's reputation, pledging to closely monitor the situation.

Hybe’s COO, Kim Tae-ho, who also leads Belift Lab, addressed accusations that ILLIT, a girl group under his label, had plagiarized NewJeans' concept. He firmly denied the claims, revealing that Hybe had initiated legal action against Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of ADOR who raised the allegations. Kim stated that Hybe was awaiting the court's decision, emphasizing that they had solid evidence to refute the plagiarism claims.

Kim also apologized for the various controversies that arose this year, acknowledging the fatigue fans and the public may have felt. He assured that Hybe, as an entertainment company, is dedicated to bringing joy to its audience and that measures would be taken to prevent future issues from causing further frustration.

During the audit, Minister Yoo also commented on the ongoing tampering controversy, which was brought to light by the former members of Fifty Fifty. He noted that this is a problem that requires significant self-regulation within the industry, as it is difficult to address through legal means. 

Yoo pointed out that while similar issues exist in other cases, such as NewJeans, creating a formal system to handle such matters remains a challenge, despite prior efforts to improve the free agency (FA) system within the K-pop industry.

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