Recent allegations have surfaced surrounding the popular South Korean boy band BTS, accusing them of artificially inflating their achievements through illegal marketing tactics in the past. There are also claims suggesting that artists under their management company have promoted cult-like ideologies in their works. In response, BIGHIT MUSIC has stated that they will take legal action against individuals spreading damaging and false accusations online.
According to online rumors, a certain individual previously involved in marketing activities for BTS in 2015 manipulated music charts for their album “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life” and its title track “I NEED U” to reach the number one spot illegally. This individual, referred to as A, allegedly stockpiled music streams to artificially boost BTS’s music sales and extorted 57 million Korean won from BTS’s management company as a result.
A was prosecuted for the crime of extortion through illegal marketing practices and was sentenced to imprisonment in 2017. The court at the time noted that A had used secret dealings with business partners to extort money, but the victims were partially at fault for engaging in improper marketing practices that gave A a reason to extort them. The management company of BTS stated that they had only engaged in viral internet marketing during that period.
Moreover, recent rumors have circulated implicating BTS’s management company in promoting cult-like ideologies through the works of multiple artists under their label.
On the 28th, BIGHIT MUSIC, the management company of BTS, released an official statement on Weverse, stating: “Recently, we have observed a significant amount of activities intended to harm BTS’s reputation, including organized attacks against the group. Simultaneously, there have been malicious slanders, spreading of false information, as well as unfounded insults and mockery directed at the artists beyond acceptable limits.”
The company further emphasized: “We view this incident as a grave violation of our artists’ reputation. In addition to addressing this matter through existing legal means, we will also appoint additional legal representatives to take strict legal action in a serious manner.”
The announcement concluded with: “We are monitoring and collecting evidence of any malicious articles targeting our artists in real-time. We will adhere to a strict policy of neither reconciliation nor tolerance and will respond firmly to those involved.”