(Corrects a previous version of the story that misidentified Blackpink as part of HYBE in paragraph 4)
By Danielle Broadway
OAKLAND, California (Reuters) – South Korean boy band Seventeen had fans singing their names 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, they are my babies,” he added.
While there was excitement, fans known as Carats spoke out about the recent controversy with South Korean company HYBE, which oversees several K-Pop artists, including popular groups BTS, NewJeans and Seventeen.
An internal document circulated among company executives, including HYBE president Bang Si-hyuk, that contained derogatory comments about several of its K-pop groups was revealed during an audit of the National Assembly on October 24 by part of the National Assembly of Culture, Sports and Culture of South Korea. Tourism Committee.
The report was revealed by Korean pop culture critic Kang Myung Seok.
In the document, some K-pop groups, including Seventeen, were criticized for being “unattractive” and having “too much plastic surgery.”
This followed a series of other controversies in the industry.
K-pop star Hanni, a member of the group NewJeans, called in October for better treatment in the K-pop industry during a parliamentary hearing.
K-pop idols are often held to high standards of behavior and must maintain a clean public image, including pressure from fans not to have partners.
The company’s criticism of Seventeen immediately sparked a backlash from Carats.
“I’m very disappointed,” said Laura Muñoz, 29, who traveled from Kansas to attend the concert.
“You support a group and their own company does not take them into account or want to protect them or 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 a big conglomerate,” he said.
Eden Johnson, 22, who attended the concert with Webb dressed as a carrot, felt optimistic at her first Seventeen concert.
“I just enjoy it, being at the concert that they [Seventeen] become happy,” he added.
Seventeen member Seungkwan posted a response to the document on Instagram in October, a few days after it was published.
“They have no right to easily insert themselves into our narrative,” he wrote in Korean.
“This not only applies to us but also to other artists. “We are not commodities to be used and enjoyed at will,” he added.
The South Korean group had the best-selling album worldwide last year.
Lee Jaesang, CEO of HYBE, issued a statement of apology from the South Korean company that was shared with Reuters.
“I extend a formal apology to all outside artists mentioned in the document,” Jaesang wrote in Korean.
“I am also in the process of reaching out directly to each label to apologize and meet with all of the artists in the music group HYBE, who are now facing criticism for actions taken solely by the company,” he added.
Fans in Oakland came dressed as carats and carrots, brought posters of their favorite band members, and handed out free handmade products to other fans.
The US leg of the tour kicked off in Illinois in October and concluded in Los Angeles last Saturday and the group will now head on to their next tour of Asia.