American fans celebrate K-pop group Seventeen amid corporate dispute By Reuters
(Corrects an earlier version of the story that incorrectly identified Blackpink as part of HYBE in section 4)
Written by Danielle Broadway
OAKLAND, California (Reuters) – South Korean boy band Seventeen had fans singing their name in Oakland, California last week as part of their “Right Here” world tour to promote the group’s 2024 album “17 Is Right Here. “
“I’ve been a Seventeen fan for about six or seven years,” said Ruby Webb, a 21-year-old fan from Portland, Oregon.
“I love them [Seventeen] a lot. S.Coups, Mingyu, Dino, my children,” he added.
Despite the excitement, fans known as Carats spoke about the recent dispute with the South Korean company, HYBE, which manages many K-Pop artists, including popular groups BTS, NewJeans and Seventeen.
An internal document circulated among company executives, including HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, containing disparaging comments about some of its K-pop groups was revealed during a National Assembly investigation on Oct. 24 by Culture, Sports, and Sports of the National Assembly of South Korea. Tourism committee.
The report was made by Korean music critic Kang Myung Seok.
In this document, other K-pop groups, including Seventeen, were criticized for being “unattractive” and “too much plastic surgery.”
This follows a series of other disputes in the sector.
K-pop star Hanni, a member of the group NewJeans, made a plea in October for better treatment in the K-pop industry during a parliamentary hearing.
K-pop idols are often held to high standards for their behavior and must maintain a clean image in public, including pressure from fans not to have partners.
Criticism from the Seventeen company soon sparked Carats’ backlash.
“I’m very disappointed,” said Laura Munoz, 29, who traveled from Kansas to attend the concert.
“You support the team, and their company doesn’t keep them in mind and wants to protect them, to be on their side,” he added.
For Webb, however, it’s important to focus more on the music than the controversy.
“I’m just trying to focus on the members, not the big conglomerate,” he said.
Eden Johnson, 22, who attended the concert with Webb wearing a carrot, felt optimistic about his seventeenth concert debut.
“I just enjoy being at a concert that is a concert [Seventeen] to be happy,” he added.
Seventeen member Seungkwan posted a response to the post on Instagram in October, a few days after it was removed.
“You have no right to easily involve yourself in our story,” he wrote in Korean.
“This does not only apply to us but also to other artists. They are not your goods to use and enjoy as you please,” he added.
The South Korean group had the best-selling album last year worldwide.
Lee Jaesang, CEO of HYBE, issued an apology statement from the South Korean company that was shared with Reuters.
“I officially apologize to all foreign artists mentioned in this article,” Jaesang wrote in Korean.
“I am in the process of contacting each label to apologize, and to meet with all the musicians of the HYBE band, who are now facing criticism for the actions taken by the company alone,” he added.
Oakland fans came dressed as both carrots and carrots, bringing posters of their favorite band members and handing out free handmade merchandise to other fans.
The American leg of the tour started in Illinois in October and concluded in Los Angeles last Saturday and the group will now head to their next Asia tour.
