HYBE idols’ situation: BTS’ alleged digital sajaegi revisited, SEVENTEEN suspected of manipulating album sales
It's quite a coincidence that both two HYBE top boy groups, BTS and SEVENTEEN, find themselves under suspicion
BTS’ alleged digital sajaegi revisited
Recently, BTS has been drawn into unprecedented controversies as old controversies resurface. The root of the issue lies in the conflict between HYBE and ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. Despite their lack of direct involvement, even with all seven members currently on hiatus due to military service, BTS inevitably became the primary target.
Among BTS’s controversies, the most notable is the suspicion of digital sajaegi. The uproar dates back to a lawsuit in 2017. An individual, referred to as A, was convicted of extortion related to illegal marketing activities for Big Hit, resulting in a year of imprisonment for threatening company officials and embezzling 57 million won.
A was known to have been involved in fraudulent marketing for Big Hit and BTS. Despite being the victim, this case implicates BTS in allegations of hiring a third party to manipulate their digital rankings.
The resurgence of this issue has redirected public suspicion towards BTS’s accomplishments. This tarnishes BTS’ reputation, leaving fans infuriated. Fans are actively presenting counter arguments and defending BTS. After a period of silence, forcing fans to speak out, HYBE recently denied all related accusations and took legal actions against attacks on BTS.
However, suspicions linger. On May 2nd, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of South Korea announced its intention to investigate allegations of digital sajaegi surrounding BTS. After eight years, the case resurfaces due to intense public scrutiny. Many are even petitioning to revoke BTS’s commendations due to this incident.
Netizens raised suspicions about SEVENTEEN manipulating their album sales.
As if BTS wasn’t dealing with enough controversies, SEVENTEEN is now facing scrutiny regarding their album sales. On April 29th, the million-selling boy group under Pledis Entertainment made a comeback with “Best Album: 17 Is Right Here”. Despite being a compilation album, SEVENTEEN managed to sell over 2 million copies on the first day, making them the first K-pop artist to achieve such a feat.
However, the remarkably high sales has sparked debates. A topic trending on Korean forums questions SEVENTEEN’s level of fame. One post reads, “With such influence, they (SEVENTEEN) could top the Billboard 200 and even tour stadiums worldwide. Selling at this level only in Asia seems unlikely.
…How could SEVENTEEN compete with Taylor Swift in Western countries? It’s unusual for a group to sell this much when their success isn’t as explosive in the US or Europe, with most fans concentrated in Korea, China, and Japan.” Skepticism arises as SEVENTEEN’s success outside of Asia is questioned.
In the comments section, many speculate whether SEVENTEEN’s achievements have been manipulated since joining HYBE in 2020. “I agree with this. When news of the HYBE acquisition was announced, their sales skyrocketed to 700 thousand in the first week, but they didn’t have any hits. Then they just kept climbing, which is suspicious,” commented a netizen.
Despite opposition from fans, who argue that the album sales figures are aggregated from various distribution sources, making manipulation difficult, suspicions remain.
However, the fact is, in 2023, SEVENTEEN continuously broke revenue records and increased their popularity. With the two albums “FML” and “Seventeenth Heaven”, SEVENTEEN sold 5 million copies and reached #2 on the Billboard 200. In IFPI’s year-end statistics, SEVENTEEN surpassed Taylor Swift in album achievements.
Their concert tickets sell out rapidly. Recently, SEVENTEEN filled two nights of Follow Again to Seoul at a stadium with a capacity of up to 60 thousand spectators. They are scheduled to perform at Nissan Stadium in Japan. Asian fans, especially from Korea, China, and Japan, have strong purchasing power.
Although the recent image of SEVENTEEN’s album boxes piled up on the streets of Japan has received criticism for environmental negligence, it also indicates their strong album sales. Thus, suspicions of SEVENTEEN manipulating album sales lack a solid basis.
Source: K14
