BTS’ big comeback is almost here! That’s why BigHit Music and HYBE labels, BTS’s music agencies, are providing substantial legal measures to protect the idols from malicious activities, including misinformation, hate trains, and edited AI photographs that denigrate the idols’ integrity.
On December 29, both labels shared the following updates on the progress of legal proceedings against malicious activities violating the rights of HYBE artists. They also wanted to make separate statements for XT, CORTIS, SEVENTEEN, TWS, LE SERAFIM, NewJeans, ENHYPEN, ILLIT, BOYNEXTDOOR, and Zico via each artist’s official Weverse.
Zero tolerance for privacy violations
The key part of HYBE’s statement regarding the security of BTS was confirming legal action against malicious posts and stalking targeting BTS. All members have suffered from home intrusion, rumors, and the spread of misinformation that have tainted their reputations. HYBE also highlighted that it will have zero tolerance for privacy violations against its artists. Read the full statement below:
Hello.
This is BIGHIT MUSIC.
In this fourth quarter, we have initiated legal action against the authors of malicious posts about our artists, identified through fan reports and our monitoring of domestic online communities (Naver, Daum (Women’s Generation, Jjukbbang Cafe, SoulDresser, etc.), Nate, TheQoo, Dmitory, DC Inside “galleries” (BTS Gallery, Male Celebrities Gallery, Domestic Entertainment Gallery, etc.), Instiz, Ilgan Best, FMKorea, etc.), music sites (Melon, Bugs Music, Genie Music, etc.), and international social media channels (X, Instagram, YouTube, etc.).
We maintain a policy of taking legal action without compromise or leniency against malicious acts, such as defaming or using insulting expressions toward our artists, generating or spreading rumors based on false information, and manipulating or distributing false information using AI. As part of these efforts, we would like to inform you that a fine has been imposed on an individual who posted insulting content about our artists on an online community. We will do our utmost to ensure that criminal punishment is imposed on cases still under investigation.
Meanwhile, there have been repeated incidents of serious violations near artists’ residences, including illegal activities, attempts to approach the residences, and stalking. We report these cases to the police as soon as they are confirmed and actively cooperate by providing the necessary materials for the investigations. The prosecution has requested summary orders for some of these incidents.
Unauthorized visits to an artist’s residence, following them, waiting for or observing them near their residence, filming their residence, and other actions that threaten their privacy and safety, as well as writing defamatory or malicious posts related to their private life or creating or spreading false rumors, are all subject to criminal penalties. In particular, leaving objects near an artist’s residence without permission also constitutes stalking. Such behavior causes severe psychological harm to the artist and is therefore absolutely unacceptable under any circumstances. We will continue to respond to any acts that threaten our artists’ privacy and safety with the highest level of strictness.
We kindly ask for your cooperation in this regard. Ensuring the safety and privacy of artists is a fundamental part of a healthy fan culture. Visiting artists’ private spaces or attempting to film or inspect their residences is not only subject to legal punishment but also causes them deep anxiety and stress. We ask that you show your support through respectful and considerate behavior.
We sincerely thank you for your love and support for BTS.
We will continue to strengthen protective measures and take further initiatives to safeguard our artists.
Thank you.