Korean Government Initiates Investigation into HYBE, Formerly Big Hit Entertainment, Following Sajaegi Allegations

Courtesy of BIGHIT MUSIC

BTS fans, known as ARMY, have initiated an online protest against the South Korean government following revelations that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ordered an investigation into alleged chart-rigging practices by BTS's agency, HYBE, formerly known as Big Hit Entertainment, dating back to 2017.

The movement gained momentum after reports emerged that the Korean Culture Ministry would refer a petition regarding the BTS case to the Korea Creative Content Agency (Kocca), responsible for overseeing various aspects of popular culture in Korea.

The Culture Ministry confirmed receipt of a petition urging an investigation into allegations that HYBE engaged in chart rigging practices and acquiesced to blackmail in 2017.
 

▲ Boy band BTS / Courtesy of BIGHIT MUSICAnother petition called for the revocation of the Order of Cultural Merit bestowed upon BTS by the minister of culture, sports, and tourism if the allegations are substantiated.

Kocca is set to launch a comprehensive investigation into the matter upon receiving directives from the ministry, aiming to elicit a response from HYBE.

The investigation stems from recent online discourse highlighting an incident in 2017, where HYBE was reportedly blackmailed by an individual named Lee and three others over allegations of "sajaegi marketing," or chart manipulation, during the promotion of BTS's album in 2015.

Lee was sentenced to a year in prison, while the other three received fines. The court specifically referenced "sajaegi marketing" in its ruling, suggesting that Lee had engaged in such practices and threatened HYBE accordingly.

HYBE has responded by denouncing defamatory online posts targeting BTS and has pledged to monitor online communities to mitigate further harm to the artists.

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