Investigation Launched into BTS’ Agency HYBE for Alleged Chart Manipulation

The South Korean government is allegedly looking into claims of chart manipulation (sajaegi) involving HYBE, the agency of BTS. Korea JoongAng Daily reports that in 2017, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism acknowledged receiving a petition outlining HYBE’s purported involvement in chart rigging and extortion.

The Korea Creative Content Agency (Kocca), a state-run organisation in charge of several facets of Korean popular culture, will receive the case. Kocca is going to look into this topic in-depth and ask HYBE for an explanation. Another petition has asked the culture ministry to take back BTS’s Order of Cultural Merit should the accusations turn out to be accurate. The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism presented this award.

According to recent online reports, in 2017 HYBE was threatened with extortion by Lee and three other people for allegedly using questionable marketing strategies in 2015 to promote BTS’ album. The other three received fines; Lee was given a year in jail. In deciding, the court made reference to “sajaegi marketing,” referring to Lee’s purported arrangement with BigHit Entertainment and the threats that followed against the business.

These events come after a BigHit Music statement about legal actions against BTS’s rights violations. The agency voiced worries about growing attempts to discredit the musicians and disseminate unfounded rumors. Since their 2013 debut, BTS—RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—have released several albums and won praise from all around the world. As things stand, every member is doing their required military service.