HYBE, the company managing globally renowned artists such as BTS, SEVENTEEN, and NewJeans, has intensified its legal response to protect its artists' rights. On November 27, HYBE subsidiaries including Big Hit Music, Pledis Entertainment, Source Music, ADOR, Belift Lab, and KOZ Entertainment shared updates on ongoing legal actions through the fan communication platform Weverse.
The artists under these labels, including BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, SEVENTEEN, LE SSERAFIM, NewJeans, ENHYPEN, BOYNEXTDOOR, and more, have faced defamation, malicious rumors, and personal attacks. HYBE has been pursuing legal measures to hold offenders accountable.
Several individuals have been convicted of defamation. In one case, a perpetrator who had previously been punished for posting defamatory content about BTS reoffended and received a fine of 2 million KRW. Another individual was fined 5 million KRW for publishing hundreds of defamatory posts about an artist on their blog.
SEVENTEEN’s management highlighted recent rumors about their album sales, emphasizing that they are taking firm legal action against such baseless accusations. Similarly, TWS (Tours) pursued legal action earlier this year against individuals spreading rumors about chart manipulation, with the court ruling in favor of the group and confirming the defamatory nature of such acts.
LE SSERAFIM filed a significant number of complaints in May, with the cases now transferred to the relevant police jurisdiction for investigation. The label has committed to continuing both criminal and civil legal actions to address these issues.
NewJeans also faced serious violations, including the distribution of sexually explicit photos created using a member’s likeness. The offender was fined several million KRW, marking a victory in the group’s fight against such egregious acts.
BOYNEXTDOOR reported individuals for fabricating and selling false personal information about their members. The label pledged to continue taking additional legal steps against those involved in the illegal distribution of private data.
HYBE and its subsidiaries urged fans to assist in the fight against malicious activities by submitting evidence through the company’s integrated reporting system for artist rights violations. “We request fans to actively report any instances of infringement via our platform,” the labels stated, underlining the importance of collaboration between agencies and fans to ensure a safer environment for artists.
By taking consistent and firm action, HYBE demonstrates its commitment to safeguarding its artists against defamation, false accusations, and personal attacks, while fostering a healthier culture in the music industry.
Sayart / ReaA JUNG, queen7203@gmail.com
