SEOUL (ANN/THE KOREA HERALD) – Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse, has found itself in the eye of a storm following a National Assembly audit that revealed controversial internal documents.
The scrutiny intensified after Hybe issued a statement before the audit officially concluded, adding fuel to the fire.
During Thursday’s audit session held by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, Rep Min Hyung-bae of the Democratic Party unveiled a sensitive internal report titled “Weekly Music Industry Report.”
The report, intended for Hybe’s top executives and its subsidiary labels, featured blunt assessments about the appearance of K-pop idols, with statements like, “They debuted at an age when they’re at their most unattractive,” “Surprisingly, none of them are pretty,” and “Shockingly unattractive.”
Rep Min condemned the remarks, highlighting the demeaning tone directed at young artists, including some minors.
Kim Tae-ho, the CEO of Belift Lab and COO of Hybe, was present during the audit and attempted damage control.
He explained that the report wasn’t an official stance of Hybe but rather a collection of online comments gathered for monitoring public sentiment.
Yet, the situation escalated as Hybe released a statement on its official website, clarifying that the report aimed to track various reactions from fans and industry circles.
The company pointed fingers, stating that “We will hold accountable those who selectively leaked provocative portions of the report to make it appear as though Hybe had criticised the artists.”
However, Hybe’s move to address the issue while the audit was still in progress didn’t sit well with committee members. They accused the company of being premature and disrespectful to the ongoing process.
In response, Kim issued an apology, admitting, “I accept the criticism that it was inappropriate for the statement to be posted during the audit.”
Kim further explained that the statement was an attempt to address media inquiries and curb the spread of misinformation, though it was promptly removed from Hybe’s website. As the dust settles, Hybe faces the challenge of restoring its reputation amidst the backlash, while the fallout from the audit remains far from over.
