The downfall of Hybe's humble beggining

Introduction

Hi, if you are reading this I want to let you know how this company is,or to be more specific how some of the people are. I will try my best to explain it in this document and show you;For legal purposes this is my opinion.

This is my opinion based on publicly available information

If needed my x account is

https://x.com/engene101911

Thankyou to

https://x.com/manu1163885

https://x.com/crimson228048?s=20

https://x.com/evxn_lee_07

For helping me complete this ❤️

Cho Seunghun - PR

Sexual harassment - HYBE's PR Director, Cho Seonghun, made disgusting, inappropriate comments in a female-dominated workplace, including a statement about physically grabbing a woman who was swimming, which was stated openly in a professional setting. You may be wondering how we know he's employed by HYBE since they don't list most of their employees. Well, the former CEO of ADOR,Min hee-jin, accused two PR executives. Her lawyer stated they were Park Taehee and Cho Seonghun. Down playing the success of New Jeans which links to his misogynistic views. Notice how he says girl not women? Proof will be located at the end of this document numbered [1] in the section labelled citations.

The images that are going to be shown are posts that Cho made himself and are examples of the sexist remarks he uses.

Translation:

[20]

Cho Sunghoon:

"Thanks to M(t/n: Min Heejin)... This summer vacation turned into a 1-night, 2-day family trip. Despite being brief, it was very fulfilling and well-packed. We visited Jaen Waterfall, the resort, a spicy fish stew restaurant, watched night fishing at the Imjin River, enjoyed the morning water park, had Hwanghae cold noodles, and even checked out the Typhoon Observatory. After all that, it was back to work in the afternoon kyah.."

ㄴM..in...???

ㄴ(Cho Sunghoon): That person... No that b*tch

ㄴYou must be suffering from all those issues [talking about the sites he visited]

ㄴ(Cho Sunghoon): Me too I haven't been there in a long time ㅎㅎ

"A few days ago, on a snowy day, the birch forest on the rooftop of the company. I think it's the last snow this year. The place where New Jeans and Le Serrafim held a dance challenge."

ㄴHyung nim, I didn't know your skin was this good, you're getting younger by the days ^^

ㄴ (Cho Sung Hoon): It's the female community group (t/n: refers to female communities. The term can sometimes carry a neutral but more often negative connotation when used by men).

"Insight and clarity"

This is Cho Seong-hun, the head of HYBE PR and a Bang Si-hyuk fanboy. He, not too long ago, contacted reporter Jang Hyung-woo to "correct" a few details in an article. However, if you listen to the recorded call, it becomes clear that Cho wasn't just aiming to correct a minor error—he had a lot more to say. This is typical of HYBE PR’s tactics. Instead of focusing on promoting NewJeans, particularly celebrating their very successful Japanese debut, they seem more invested in controlling narratives and media plays. This behavior reflects how HYBE operates. They wield their influence to manipulate the media, ensuring that coverage aligns with their agenda. Unfortunately, they've taken the current conflict very personally, to the extent that they’re willing to undermine their most successful girl group. The way they dismiss and belittle Min Hee-jin, a woman who worked her way up to become the CEO of a successful K-pop company and elevated her brainchild into a global phenomenon, is quite telling. Referring to her as a "puppet CEO" reveals their mindset. To them, Min Hee-jin was never meant to have real power. They expected her to be a figurehead, a puppet who would obediently follow their every whim. But reality hit them hard. Min Hee-jin turned out to be much more than they bargained for—she’s not someone they can control. She’s standing her ground and fighting back, which threatens their sense of control. And if there’s one thing powerful men dislike, it’s a woman who refuses to submit to their authority.[21]

Purchasing prostitution

Company money at illegal venues in which executives reportedly used corporate cards to spend millions of won at room salons and tenpro establishments - essentially high-end escort and prostitution venues. Which are, by the way, illegal in South Korea.

Media manipulation - Their PR team was caught approaching journalists to strategically push narratives, particularly around the NewJeans situation. Controlling the story, basically.

These were written by some verified people in X (formerly, Twitter) whose one of their friends happens to work at Hybe and they got some info.

This is part of the previous statement. Min Hee-jin (from the precious evidence) did call the executives quote "moral decay."

To further prove my point III shares information on the adult industry in South Korea. A new article reports that South Korean firms are using corporate credit cards at adult venues, as data were released by the rep, Kim Young-jin of the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee. The information used by Kim Young-jin was recorded by the SK Nation Tax Service. The data shows that quote “client hospitality expenses," of 600 billion won [2].

There is a popular app called 'Blind' and is considered verifiable insider information as you have to go through a verification process WITH the company's work email where they send a code through it to verify. A private channel can only be open if a minimum number of people from the same company is verified. Furthermore, you have to continuously verify your email periodically and if you leave or you are laid off, the account is automatically disabled. This app is known to have verified information that was confirmed when taken to court. An example of this would be 'the nut rage scandal' that occurred in 2014. It was reported by an employee of the company and later on confirmed by court and statements [3]. Due to this evidence most people believe that the top two screenshots (that were taken from the 'Blind' app translated and posted by the user on X formally known as twitter) are true statements.

Nu-Kim

This section is for Nu-Kim the ex director of Visual and Creative Director.

Nu-Kim, a figure central to Hybe's creative identity, holds the complex distinction of having shaped the visual landscape of some of K-pop's biggest groups while later becoming embroiled in significant controversy. This section will first introduce Nu-Kim's background and pivotal role within the company. Following this, we will examine the available evidence concerning his work and professional conduct, contrasting it with the ensuing serious allegations that ultimately contributed to his departure and the subsequent scrutiny of Hybe's corporate culture.This section will first introduce Nu-Kim's background and pivotal role within the company. Following this, we will examine the available evidence concerning his work and professional conduct, contrasting it with the ensuing serious allegations that ultimately contributed to his departure and the subsequent scrutiny of Hybe's corporate culture.

Who he is and proof he worked in HYBE

Nu-Kim (Real name: Kim Sunghyun) is a former visual and creative director of HYBE Entertainment. He is known to have helped with many of HYBE entertainments’ groups like: BTS, Le Sserafim, TXT and dream academy’s creative and the visual co-ordination of the survival show by HYBE x Geffen records. This is proof he worked in HYBE and in the description of the music videos that I will list would credit him. Some links will be added to the citation to check the music videos description to prove this [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14].

You may be wondering why I started as a former visual and creative director. [4] On July 22nd, 2025, an employee who was 33 years old was convicted of insider trading and received a reduced sentence of 10 months, suspended for 2 years and a 231 million won fine due to violating Financial investment service and the capital market act [5]. As of right now Nu Kim isn’t credited for any other works from HYBE after this which highly suggests it was him. His last name matches as well as his age and the timeline of his inactivity. Le sserafim’s most recent comeback doesn't credit him. The music video ‘Spaghetti’ doesn’t mention him and he was the visual and creative director of source music prior [15]. Source music is a branch of HYBE entertainment that manages Le sserafim. Same time as his official instagram account was deactivated.

Sexual scandals and sentencing

A person operating under the name "NU KIM" (@nukimukim on Instagram, 49K followers) was allegedly caught sending an unsolicited and predatory DM — "저랑 노실레여" ("wanna come play with me?"). The account has since been fully deactivated, strongly suggesting a deliberate attempt to erase evidence after being exposed. This individual is believed to be connected to HYBE/BELIFT's inner circle, and these screenshots are being treated as direct, tangible proof of the predatory culture allegedly operating within the company. He had also posted images that were very sexual and inappropriate to women [16]. This includes what seems to be an image of him and a sex doll that is bound and naked faced down implying kidnapping, violence and rape posted in 2016. The post was reposted by Christian DADA who is a designer. This is the same man that Bang PD Nim allowed to work with women and especially minors despite this disturbing incident.The after screenshot is different due to the receiver replying and the sender’s account being deleted.

The news had spread late 2024 and the post was uploaded years prior in 2016. But only when there was an insider scandal was he arrested and faced consequences. Not for the other crimes of course, he only served justice when HYBE's money was threatened. I wonder, why is money more important to HYBE than the employees that work there, especially Le Sserafim. They are supposed to be protected and Eunchae, who was a minor, was as young as 16 when the music video 'fearless' was released and he was credited as the creative director. Maybe because Bang PD nim is acquainted with Nu Kim.

Kim Tae-ho

Kim Tae-ho is the official CEO of Belift lab (a sub-branch of the company HYBE entertainment.) He has been accused of many allegations including sexualising idols including minors.

One such incident was when Min Heejin accused ILLIT of copying NewJeans and eventually held an emergency press conference on April 25th, 2024[1]. Then time skip to June 10th, 2024, when Belift uploaded a video about the situation and to defend themselves, Kim Tae-ho described the NewJeans concept as different to ILLIT’s in a video called ‘표절 주장에 대한 빌리프랩의 입장’ in reponse to Min Hee-jin’s accusation [23]. Describing it as "teenagers, materialization of grown ups’ dream” in the English subtitles that they provide in the video. Netizens negatively reacted to this as some people translated it as ‘teenagers for adult fantasies’. Even native speakers questioned the phrase.

Min Heejin

Check subtopics 😁

False Bullying Allegations

Min Hee-jin was the CEO of ADOR that managed NewJeans. But she was asked to step down on April 22nd, 2024, when a scandal occurred which eventually resulted in Min Hee-jin stepping down as CEO of ador. But apart from this there are many things she is accused of. During the legal battle, Belift was accused of copying NewJeans and as a result Illit was severely bullied online because of this. Instead of the company being impacted, majority of the backlash fell on Illit. One sad incident was when Hanni of NewJeans claimed that Illit’s manager told the members to ignore her. Later on texts revealed she discussed this with Min and said she wasn’t sure of the exact words the manager said, but Min was encouraging Hanni to make the claim. Later on their private messages were revealed [22]. She caused the events that would cause online bullying to ILLIT for more than a year until this came to light, Impacting their mental health especially when 2 of them were minors

Criminal complaints against Min Hee-Jin

Mr A (an ex employee of ADOR) accused Min of Workplace harassment and verbal abuse [25]. He had also reported Mr B (an executive) of sexual harassment and workplace harrasment. He claims that Min coached Mr B so he can evade responsibility and tried to cover the incident for him, revealing Min had failed to report workplace evidence legally and tampered with the evidence. In retaliation, Min released messages she had with Mr A, demanding she would provide the truth and receive an apology. He filed a criminal complaint against her in court including what was previously mentioned and for verbal abuse. The court agreed in MR a’s favour and finer Min but claimed the sexual harassment didn’t violate the ‘Equal Employment Opportunity Act for Men and Women.’

Another ex-employee, A, accused Min Hee-jin and Mr B of the same accusations that Mr A had claimed [26][27][28]. Her reports were dismissed, that she was verbally abused and instead gaslight her saying she was underperforming and reduced her salary by 40%. Min covered the evidence. Apparently Mr B apologised to Min but still there weren't any consequences for the harassment. After Min released the 18 page statement A disagreed stating that she was not a neutral bias as she favoured Mr B, messages showing Min insulted A calling her a ‘bitch’ and ‘feminist’, misogynistic remarks. Min had the final say but no warning.

Sexualisation of minors and concept controversy

Min Hee-jin is also accused of sexualisation of minors, especially for the idols that work under her company. She had posted weird images that hint to pedophilia, like pictures of a movie called ‘love in the afternoon’ where an 18 year old character's partner is a 56 year old man.

She also had been reported to have many pictures of this concept in her room. There was another post she made that featured an actor, Brooke Shields, who started her acting career at just 11 months old [29]. But her career as a child is very controversial as she was sexualised many times and openly too. As a child she starred in many films that were inappropriate as she was a minor and had scenes where she appeared nude such as ‘pretty baby’. She was also sexualised as a minor by the media and even modelled for Playboy's ‘sugar and spice’ photoshoot at just 10 years old nude [30] and for Calvin Klein at just 15 and saying the quote “You know what comes between me and my Calvin’s? Nothing” both very sexualising for a minor [31]. With context, many people associate young Brooke Shields of being a victim of pedophilia and the media, sexually abused from age 10. The image is of Min Hee-jin’s instagram post that was later deleted of different images of young Brooke mills and 2 of them from controversial films she acted in mainly due to implicated nudity, incest and the fact that she was 14 while Christopher Atkins was 18. All of this plus her concepts tell us that this is the sort of style she is inspired by. Furthermore she used to work at SM entertainment as a visual director [32]. Even then she received accusations of sexualisation of minors in her concepts such as Shinee’s sherlock.

Another issue would be NewJeans side track, ‘cookie.’ It had faced criticism for the implied sexual meaning such as “looking at my cookie” while the video contains the members wearing school uniform while implying a double meaning [33]. A member of NewJeans Minji was wearing a shirt with the words ‘pimp is yours.’ It can be viewed as sexual due to pimp having a double meaning like cool or a man that sells prositutes [34]. There are many instances of the company dressing the NewJeans members inappropriately especially when all the members were minors at the time.

Insulting New Jeans and Fans

Min Hee Jin and the members and fans:

These are all messages that HYBE wanted to use as evidence in court (albeit, they were forced to show them with mosaics, because MHJ’s lawyers objected to their usage). This is my translation, as a user before posted the link and asked fellow Koreans to translate (and as it so happened, I was watching the stream). I’ve translated them as best as I can for context and clarity.

The following contains translations of some of the messages Min Hee Jin had sent.

MHJ, to VP L, regarding female employees:

This is why I dislike working with bitches.

They suck at working, all they do is complain, they can’t be bothered to do anything, they’re lazy, tired, irresponsible…

Seriously, I’m a girl, but I hate girls.

They’re shallow, all they like to do is talk, they’re frivolous about their work and don’t care about it.

They’re narrow-visioned.

They can’t work like I do for the life of them, but they envy me, the fucking bitches.

Regarding the sexual harassment complaint, again, with VP L:

Die fucking bitch

Messages between MHJ to VP L, when they were preparing New Jeans’ award acceptance speech, regarding the New Jeans members:

Just tell them to always be humble.

Cause we’re pushing their popularity even if they get fat like pigs.

Regarding New Jeans:

They didn’t get popular because of their own efforts.

Regarding New Jeans:

What would they know.

All they do is look at the mirror.

ㅎㅎㅎㅎㅎ

Regarding New Jeans:

Damn children, getting scolded because they can’t even lose weight.

Regarding a specific New Jeans member:

Wow, (member name redacted) fucking fatass fuck.

Concerning the fans:

People who look at brain-dead children and fucking call themselves fans.

Regarding her illegal divestiture plans 2/4/2024:

February 4th 2024 is one year before BTS comes back, which is the time when HYBE is weakest. This is when we will end HYBE and BSH.

3/29/2024 (The reporter put the white bar on the screen because there was a change of plans, and apparently revealing that text there would be detrimental to the New Jeans members):

Change of plans.

We’ll send the first email on 4/3 and begin the attack.

There’s no need to delay if we’re going to move on to the second stage of our plan anyways, so attack. As for us, we’ll begin the PR war.

April 20th, we will disregard any suggestions for mediation or improvement (of our complaints).

Raising the issue to the general public is our goal.

The best case scenario is if HYBE suggests a compromise with me to prevent a catastrophe.

Bang PD nim

The trajectory of Hybe Corporation, formerly known as Big Hit Entertainment, from a small, debt-ridden agency to a global entertainment titan is intrinsically linked to the vision and leadership of its founder, Bang Si-hyuk, often affectionately called "Bang PD." While Hybe is now synonymous with global success, primarily through the phenomenal rise of BTS, its journey has been marred by a series of high-profile controversies that challenge the narrative of its humble, ethical beginnings.

This analysis will delve into the critical factors contributing to the darkening of Hybe's public image. Specifically, we will examine the following key issues:

Timeline and Allegations of Fraud: Scrutiny surrounding the company's financial practices and early business conduct.
Sexualization Controversies: Instances where artistic and promotional content has faced backlash for the perceived sexualization of idols.
The "BJ Controversy": The infamous incident involving the alleged use of a term for broadcast jockeys, which brought intense criticism regarding content control and public relations management.

timeline fraud

During late 2024, authorities initiated the first formal investigations into these transactions.

Then from April to June 2025, Police applied for search warrants for the Korea Exchange and HYBE headquarters multiple times. But initial requests are rejected which is the reason for such a long delay.

Then on July 16, 2025 The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) formally referred Bang to the prosecution for alleged violations of the Capital Markets Act. This allowed the police to conduct a search on the 24th of July 2025 and conduct a raid at HYBE's headquarters in Seoul.But during the raid, bang was in the U.S. So after the raid Bang returns to South Korea from the U.S. and issues a formal apology to employees, pledging to prioritize and fully cooperate with the investigation. Then on the 15 September, 2025: Bang undergoes nearly 14 hours of police questioning as a suspect at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.On October and November 2025 Bang is summoned for further investigations, four additional rounds of questioning (five total) as police report "considerable progress" during the questioning.

December 2025: A Seoul court approves the provisional seizure of 156.8 billion won of Bang's HYBE shares as potential criminal proceeds. The on Februray 2026 reports said investigators who had been working the case since 2024 were transferred as the investigations were entering a final stage.Until March 2025, the case is still under active investigation by prosecutors, with potential penalties of five years to life imprisonment if illicit gains are confirmed to exceed 5 billion won. He has been banned from travelling outside of Korea as of now due to court orders [35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52].

If you want to see more information check:

The downfall of Hybe's humble beggining - Final draft

sexualisation

He has also made comments that sexualised minors. For instance during an interview for the ‘New Yorker’ he made a comment which sparked outrage. At the time when the Enhypen members were trainees ALL of them were minors. The youngest, Niki, was only 13. Referring to minors as ‘dark and sexy’ is highly inappropriate as he was sexualising them. As a higher up he isn’t supposed to do this, he is supposed to ensure that his employees are safe ESPECIALLY minors. Their parents gave them permission to train thinking they are safe with the company. If he says this with no hesitation to a new article what would he say in private?

He also helped to compose a song called ‘no more perfume for you’ for teen top when all of them were minorsThe song faced immediate backlash due to its inappropriate lyrics, which included lines discussing spraying perfume to mask the scent of another woman while on a date with a girlfriend. This premise was deemed highly problematic, particularly because all members of Teen Top were minors at the time. Furthermore, Big Hit's then-CEO, Bang Si-Hyuk (Namgoong PD), further inflamed the controversy with his comments defending the song, stating that it was simply a realistic depiction of a scenario. It was later revealed that the Teen Top members themselves had no input on the lyrics and were unaware of the content's implications, merely performing what was given to them by the agency. Saying now they know they don’t like it and how much they regret performing the song. If they knew they wouldn’t have.[115][116]

BJ controversy (Broadcast Jockey)

Juice Seyeon, once spotted with HYBE chairman, makes $37,000 from birthday livestream - The Korea Times

1. The LA Sighting with Streamer Juice Seyeon

In August 2024, a major social media storm occurred after HYBE Chairman Bang Sihyuk

was filmed in Los Angeles walking with two young female influencers.

Scandals involving BTS's Suga, Chairman Bang Si-hyuk anger HYBE shareholders - The Korea Times

The Incident: A YouTuber captured footage of Bang crossing a street in Beverly Hills with Juice Seyeon (born in 2

000) and her sister.

The "Minor" Confusion: While social media users often described Seyeon as very young due to her appearance

and "BJ" (Broadcast Jockey) career, she was 24 years old at the time of the sighting.

Official Explanation: HYBE stated the meeting was "coincidental" and that Bang was helping them with restaura

nt reservations and tourist advice because they had previously met at a gathering where he advised them on ho

w to handle impersonators.

Backlash: The photos sparked significant criticism from fans and shareholders, leading HYBE to attempt to have

the images removed from online communities, which only fueled further speculation.

[71] This is proof she makes sexualised content titled and randomly adding ‘student’ or ‘schooler’. It's obviously added to imply that they are under 18 when in actual fact they aren’t. While wearing revealing outfits and posing provocitively. This is used to attract more people to their content, fulfilling these disgusting ‘fantasies’. This crosses the serious moral and legal boundary. It shouldn’t even be available. It’s misleading and even if the person posing is an adult is feeds these delusions and normalise these unacceptable behaviours.

Hybe financial investigations

Seriousness and scope of the probe

Checksub-topics 🙂

Seriousness and Scope of the Probe

Expanded investigation: Some commenters say the probe appears unusually serious because “2 teams were sent for investigation, which is different from the usual 1 team” and “NTS could have found what was behind those worries.”

“2 teams were sent for investigation, which is different from the usual 1 team”

Evidence already in hand: A common view is that authorities would not move without strong evidence: “NTS team does not move unless they already have solid evidence. That is, if they move, it's already with guilty evidence at hand.” “The NTS team does not move unless they already have solid evidence. That is, if they move, it's already with guilty evidence at hand”

Long-running, highstakes case: Some users argue the length of the investigation suggests seriousness, while others disagree that duration proves anything. “this investigation has been ongoing for over a year now, and nobody's been indicted”

Allegations and Possible Misconduct

Fraud and self dealing claims: One detailed comment says the allegations involve HYBE investors being misled and “they're alleging he didn't cut the private investors into the IPO profits and also self dealt.”

“They're alleging he didn't cut the private investors into the IPO profits and also self-dealt”

Criminal profiteering risk: An article linked in the comment quotes the court saying there is “significant reason to believe that the suspect (Bang Si-hyuk) acquired criminal profits through fraudulent means.”

“significant reason to believe that the suspect (Bang Si-hyuk) acquired criminal profits through fraudulent means”

Broader Pattern of Misconduct Claims

Some commenters connect the probe to earlier issues like insider trading and internal reporting concerns, saying “the employees sentenced to prison for insider trading and fraud, the chairman investigated for fraudulent trading” point to deeper problems.

“the employees sentenced to prison for insider trading and fraud, the chairman investigated for fraudulent trading”

HYBE’s Response and Perceived Weakness

One post argues HYBE’s relative silence may signal trouble:

“HYBE is usually chatty and has a strongly worded position in these when they are confident,” but here “they had no company level position they could take and refused to give a statement.”

“they had no company level position they could take and refused to give a statement”

Leaked Documents and Media Control

In 2024, HYBE’s internal documents were leaked, causing backlash due to insults toward idols mentioned in them. However, discussion quickly died down.

The documents were buried because HYBE is skilled at controlling social media. Big fan pages, especially on Twitter, are monitored by the company. Articles in Korean media can be taken down within minutes, and journalists have altered past articles following tags on Twitter, showing clear influence from HYBE.

HYBE’s media control tactics involve bots, chart manipulation, and coordinated fan activity, though there is no evidence BTS was aware or involved.

Accusations of Manipulation and Sajaegi

HYBE has faced repeated accusations of using illicit tactics to promote its artists.

In 2015, BTS’s hit I Need U topped Korean charts, leading to suspicions of Sajaegi (chart manipulation). HYBE strongly denied this.
In 2017, a former CEO of a contracting firm threatened to expose Big Hit’s illegal marketing practices unless paid. Court documents confirmed the existence of these practices, and the CEO was sentenced to a year in prison.
Despite rebranding to HYBE in 2021 and expanding globally, controversies continued with internal audits and acquisitions of PR firms accused of smear campaigns.

These incidents indicate a recurring pattern of HYBE using aggressive marketing and media control tactics.

Use of Bots, Media Control, and Fan Coordination

HYBE has been documented using digital tools and fan networks to shape public perception.

Leaked internal documents and social media monitoring show HYBE controlling narratives, including deleting or modifying unfavorable articles.
Bots were used to reply to posts mentioning rival groups, like NewJeans, artificially amplifying certain narratives.
Fan groups (“armys”) have coordinated mass liking, streaming, and purchasing campaigns, sometimes facilitated by the company, to inflate chart performance and social media metrics.
Spotify streams, Billboard Hot 100 placements, and YouTube views have been affected by coordinated actions, raising questions about the legitimacy of some achievements.

These strategies combine corporate actions with fan participation, blurring lines between marketing and manipulation.

Allegations Against HYBE Founder (IPO Misconduct)

Bang Sihyuk, HYBE’s founder, faces serious allegations related to the company’s IPO:

No-IPO Claims to Investors: He allegedly told shareholders there was no intention to go public while secretly advancing IPO plans, leading some investors to sell their shares to a private equity fund.
Secretly Advancing the Listing: Publicly denying an IPO while quietly preparing one behind the scenes.
Fraud / Self-Dealing: Claims include misleading investors, sharing profits from the private equity fund, and signing contracts for personal financial gain (~400 billion KRW).
Dual Reporting Behavior: Told investors there was no IPO plan but informed financial authorities otherwise.

Potential consequences are severe under Korean law: if profits or avoided losses exceed 5 billion KRW, penalties can include life imprisonment or a minimum of five years in prison.

Why People Think It Matters

Possible Personal Gain: Allegations suggest Bang may have acted for his own financial benefit rather than the company’s.
Big Financial Stakes: The case involves potentially massive profits, making it a high-profile white-collar investigation.
Serious Legal Exposure: Reddit users note that if proven, penalties could be severe, including life imprisonment or long prison terms.
Public Concern: Some fans and observers call for accountability and justice, highlighting the potential industry-wide implications.

Skeptical / Minimizing Views

Not Necessarily Illegal: Some argue that business plans can change quickly, and denying an IPO initially doesn’t automatically prove wrongdoing.
Old News / Little New Confirmation: Others note that the investigation has been ongoing for months, so recent reports may not add new information.
Mixed Public Perception: Some users remain unsure whether the case will proceed to prosecution, citing official statements that nothing is fixed yet.

Allegations and Investigations

Fraudulent IPO Practices: Bang Sihyuk allegedly misled shareholders in 2019, claiming there were no IPO plans, which led them to sell shares to a private equity fund. Later, HYBE went public, raising suspicions of fraud.
Legal Actions: The Financial Services Commission referred Bang to prosecution for these alleged fraudulent activities, which could carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment.
Financial Details: The alleged illicit profits amount to roughly 400 billion KRW, marking this as a major white-collar case under the Lee Jaemyung administration.
Expert Commentary: Professor Lee Jeonghwan highlighted that if true, this is a case of market manipulation harming ordinary investors, warranting strong financial penalties.

Public and Fan Reactions

Mixed Reactions: Some fans demand accountability and justice, while others defend Bang Sihyuk, emphasizing his contributions to K-pop.
Impact on Artists: Concerns exist about the effect on HYBE artists, but many believe the artists themselves should not be held responsible for leadership actions.
Fan Commentary: Some users criticized supporters making “wild conspiracies” to defend Bang, emphasizing the need for legal scrutiny.

Corporate and Industry Implications

Management Criticism: HYBE’s executive appointments and management decisions have drawn scrutiny, with some arguing that incompetent personnel are being rewarded.
PR and Image Issues: The acquisition of TAG PR, a firm involved in multiple lawsuits, raised concerns about corporate strategy and ethical considerations.
Media Strategy: HYBE’s control over social media narratives, including the use of bots and influencer manipulation, has been highlighted as part of their broader corporate tactics.

Legal and Financial Context

Stock Market Regulations: The case underscores the responsibilities of company leaders during IPO processes and the complexities of compliance under Korean capital market laws.
Potential Outcomes: If found guilty, Bang Sihyuk could face severe penalties, including life imprisonment or a minimum of five years, along with substantial fines for violations exceeding 5 billion KRW.
Expert Commentary: Professors and financial experts have described the situation as potential market manipulation that harmed ordinary investors, emphasizing the need for strong financial penalties if allegations are true.

Public and Fan Reactions 2

Public and Fan Reactions

Mixed Reactions: Fans and the public are divided—some call for accountability and justice, while others defend Bang Sihyuk, citing his contributions to K-pop.
Impact on Artists: Concerns exist about how the investigation could affect HYBE artists, but many emphasize that the artists themselves should not be held responsible for the company leadership’s actions.
Debates and Speculation: Social media discussions include a mix of serious commentary and conspiracy theories, reflecting both support and criticism of HYBE’s practices.

Corporate and Industry Implications 2

Corporate and Industry Implications

Management Criticism: HYBE’s management decisions, including executive appointments, have faced scrutiny. Critics argue that some decisions reflect incompetence or misaligned priorities.
PR and Image Issues: The acquisition of TAG PR, a firm involved in multiple controversies, has raised concerns about HYBE’s approach to reputation management and crisis handling.
Media Strategy: HYBE is noted for tightly controlling narratives, including rapid modifications or removals of articles and the use of social media influence to shape public perception.

Legal and Financial Context 2

Legal and Financial Context

Stock Market Regulations: The case highlights the responsibilities of company leaders during IPO processes and the legal complexities of securities law in South Korea.
Potential Outcomes: If found guilty, Bang Si-hyuk could face severe penalties, including life imprisonment or a minimum of five years in prison for violations involving gains or avoided losses exceeding 5 billion KRW.
Financial Stakes: Alleged fraudulent profits are substantial, estimated at around 400 billion KRW, making this a high-profile white-collar case.

Public and Fan Reactions 3

Public and Fan Reactions

Mixed Reactions: Some fans demand accountability and justice for alleged misconduct, while others defend Bang Si-hyuk for his contributions to the K-pop industry.
Impact on Artists: Concerns exist about the potential effects on HYBE artists, though many emphasize that the artists themselves should not be held responsible for company leadership’s actions.
Commentary: “If he’s guilty, let him face whatever criminal charges await him.” “Literally people conjuring up wild conspiracies to defend him are baffling.”

Corporate and Industry Implications 3

Corporate and Industry Implications

Management Criticism: HYBE’s executive decisions, including appointments and internal handling, have faced scrutiny. “HYBE nominating him is worrying because it’s like incompetent people are rewarded with more responsibilities.”
PR and Image Issues: Acquisition of TAG PR, a firm linked to multiple lawsuits, raised concerns about the company’s image and strategy. “Not a bit surprised since TAG is being implicated now in multiple lawsuits.”

Legal and Financial Context 3

Legal and Financial Context

Stock Market Regulations: The case highlights responsibilities of company leaders during IPOs and the complexities of financial compliance. “The point is he was saying he wasn’t planning on an IPO at all…”
Potential Outcomes: If found guilty, Bang Si-hyuk could face severe penalties, including hefty fines and imprisonment. “If the gains or avoided losses from such violations exceed 5 billion KRW, the offender can face life imprisonment or a minimum of five years in prison.”

Conclusion and Industry Impact

Significance: The HYBE IPO probe is a major event in K-pop, raising questions about corporate governance and ethical business practices.
Community Reactions: Fans and the broader industry remain divided, closely watching how the situation unfolds. “While the investigation continues, the K-pop community remains divided, with many watching closely to see how the situation unfolds…”

Hybe internal report leaked

HYBE INTERNAL REPORT LEAKED:

This document was part of evidence submitted in a recent National assembly audit.

The Summary:

Hybe's internal "Music Industry Report" contains defamatory comments about idols from other entertainment companies, focusing on their appearance, skills, and personal lives.

The report, released weekly, was written by the editor of Weverse Magazine and has been criticized for its harsh and biased evaluations. Specific idols, particularly from SM Entertainment and JYP, were targeted with negative comments about their looks, plastic surgery, and stage performances. Hybe's own idols were also critiqued, including remarks about self-doubt and personal insecurities. The report includes strategies for handling online criticism of idols, showing how Hybe monitors and responds to public opinion.

National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee's comprehensive state audit on the 24th and obtained by our newspaper, include information such as appearance evaluations, private life controversies, and skill evaluations of idols from other entertainment agencies, organized in a report format. This report, which is reported in a weekly format, was reportedly written by Mr. A, who used to work as a music critic and is currently the editor-in-chief of Weverse Magazine, published by Weverse Company, a subsidiary of Hybe.

The report released during this state audit contains criticisms of other idols' appearances. It pointed out, "They debuted at a young age when the members were still ugly, so none of them have the looks of idols, and they really perform on stage like a middle school talent show." "The other members are surprisingly ugly. It's a team that clearly has not been

popular until now." He also mentioned idols who appeared on a variety show and commented, "The synergy of ugliness is unbearable."

Also, along with Hive's 'R U NEXT', 'Information about a new SM Entertainment girl group suddenly started circulating, and about 8 candidates were narrowed down, but surprisingly, none of them were pretty. I thought it was because the trainee infrastructure was worse than ○○○○○○, but when I think about how everyone was shocked by the looks when group ○○○ debuted, I wonder if SM Entertainment's aesthetics itself have changed.In addition, he mentioned the group ○○○ under SM Entertainment and reported, "Most attacks on ○○○ can be defended against with ○○○. If someone says someone is ugly, they respond with a picture of member ○○ from the past, and if someone says ○○ can't dance, they show ○○, who is still dancing, and so on. This is a pattern that has already passed on DC Inside."

In addition, JYP girl groups that escaped ○○○○, including members ○○ and ○○, commented, "They had plastic surgery to the point where they were almost unrecognizable. They all showed strong signs of having been exposed to an environment where it was difficult to defend one's mentality for a long period of time, and this tends to be especially evident in relation to appearance and sex appeal. I wonder if ○○ is showing similar signs in that regard." He also directly evaluated the stage skills of other idols. He said, "The fandom's defense logic was that the company did not let the members who were good at live performances of the group ○○○ perform, but this was shattered by Coachella, and the fandom is quickly turning its arrows of resentment in other directions than the team." He also added, "I think SM fandom is quick to change the issue and set the direction in these areas. In order to protect the members, the company has to become the villain."

Hive also gave an evaluation of their own idols. They said, "○○ is a person who talks a bit about latte, perhaps because he has a lot of self-doubt, but I think he's someone who secretly needs attention in that regard."In addition, it was confirmed that the report contained defamatory content about idols affiliated with Hive and those from other companies on online communities and social networking services (SNS), as well as online viral strategies and

response policies for such content.

This report was previously mentioned by former Adore CEO Min Heejin. On May 24, former CEO Min stated her position regarding the internal whistleblower incident at Hive, "The 'Industry Trend Review' document circulated internally every week by Editor A continued to contain biased content, so Adore even raised an objection, saying, 'Facts such as numbers and indicators are needed, and at least a minimal level of objectivity should be maintained.' I don't understand why the content of an individual without credibility and lacking objectivity should be distributed to all executives as if it were representative." At the time, Hive said, "The industry trend report is an internal document that collects and analyzes subjective reactions and issues from consumers in addition to quantitative indicators such as chart performance, and then suggests suggestions for improvement," adding, "It does not represent Hive's position or evaluation of artists."

Attorney Jong-eon Noh of the law firm Jongeon said, "In particular, the content includes numerous insulting expressions and false facts, including mentioning the real names of specific idols from other large companies. This could potentially constitute insult or defamation." He added, "Although it was said to be simply for internal executive reporting, given that the data was actually leaked externally, we cannot rule out the possibility that employees other than executives within HYBE may have accessed the above mentioned data." The report was also made public during the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee's comprehensive state audit currently in progress on the 24th. Kim Taeho, CEO of Belief Lab, who appeared as a witness that day, responded to Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Min Hyung-bae's question, "Why do you review such reports every week?" by saying, "As someone working in the Kpop industry, I create and review a lot of monitoring data on public opinion about the Kpop industry as a whole." He added, "It is not HYBE's opinion or an official judgment. It is a summary of online monitoring." Regarding this, a Hive official said, "The content disclosed in the state audit is edited content, and contains various contents such as industry trends as well as slanderous content," and "It is not Hive's opinion, but simply conveyed the results of monitoring."

Not just by "collecting public opinions", they WROTE MABY OF IT THEMSELVES

The HYBE COO admitted pushing the album in front of the national assembly then blamed it on "some staff.” [54][55][56]

An actual conversation from this “audit” regarding the report:

Min Hyung-bae: “Are you saying it’s not an internal document from HYBE? But it is!”

Kim Taeho: “It is true that the document was written internally at HYBE, but it’s not our stance; it’s simply a summary of public opinions on the internet.”

Min Hyung-bae: “But why did you use such terms then?”

Kim Tae-ho: “As I said, we didn’t write that content ourselves.”

Min Hyung-bae: “But you just said it’s an internal document!”

Kim Tae-ho: “Yes, it’s our document.”

Min Hyung-bae: “Then why do you keep saying it’s not HYBE’s stance?”

Kim Tae-ho: “The document is ours, but I’m telling you again, the content doesn’t reflect our views.”

Min Hyung-bae: “Mr. Kim Taeho, you’re making this so confusing. You keep admitting it’s HYBE’s document, but then you say it’s not HYBE’s stance.”

You can’t read this transcript and not realize how stupid or ignorant this politician is. He’s a politician. He knows better than anyone what a sentiment analysis is, since politics are the ones that use it the most [57].

“Zico too”… Chairman Bang Si-hyuk personally orders sharing of ‘Idol Report’

According to the email records obtained by the Hankyoreh that day, on January 6, 2022, Chairman Bang replied to the "Weekly Music Industry Report III," shared by former head Kang, saying, "Please add Mr. Zico to the document sharing list. Among the recipients was also Kim Jooyoung,the current CEO of ADOR, who was the Chief Human Resources Officer at the time [58][59][60][61][62][63].

So basically to summarize, since people seem to have no concept of nuance:

1. An employee of HYBE created a running report over several years tracking both good and bad trending topics in the online Kpop communities and media, for the purpose of avoiding controversy and capitalizing on opportunities (I.e. focusing on group dynamics when competitive groups seem to lack it, etc).

2. This is a type of report crafted by literally every K-pop company and honestly just about every competitive industry.

3. The report contained both good and bad commentary collected from online, but also had editorialized summaries and personal commentary (of the author, not the whole company). Some of these comments are agreeably atrocious in and of themselves (commenting on sexuality of minors, etc) but again, are also only the views held (at least knowingly) by the author of the document and are thus his responsibility.

4. Some comments discussing what fans do and don’t like about people’s looks, behavior, etc. are depersonalizing, but should probably be expected in this industry. They aren’t having these kids get plastic surgery and do insane diets for funsies. Yes that’s horrible, yes that’s the industry and literally no one should be surprised.

5. The document was designed to be distributed to only top or top mid-level executives were not to be distributed to other employees or the general public (again because there is a collection of a lot of trash from the online communities.)

6. ‘Some executive’ who had access to the document leaked at least portions of the document, seemingly just a collection of the most vile commentary to the NA. Presumably this is the big bombshell Team Bernies was bragging about. While we don’t know for a fact this is is Min Heejin, this is being assumed because she:

a) Had means and motive

b) Is definitely tied to Team Bernies.

c) Literally had a document on her computer (“The Sins of HYBE”) that referenced this report.

7. HYBE was understandably angry this got leaked, because it is a PR mess, but also because this is supposed to be a confidential document for very few people’s eyes, and thus the language used can be pretty heartless and it contains a collection of a lot of vile stan commentary.

8. When HYBE released a statement saying it was inappropriate to have been shared (first by the leaker, but also the NA and they would find who leaked it, the NA gets flustered and upset. For the record, this would tie the reps of NA who received it as a potential case of corporate espionage, not a good look.

9. HYBE admits that the personal commentary from the author of the document is unprofessional, and has fired the guy responsible for the commentary.

10. The collection of data both good and bad, is standard practice. The rude personal commentary is not, or at least shouldn’t be.

So… no HYBE as a corporation has not been shown to have engaged in negative viral marketing, nor did they as a corporation craft rude commentary. An employee of a company is not ‘the company’

Being able to see all of this objectively without going down the HYBE antifan rabbit hole or blindly defending everything in the document should be a goal for a lot more people. Not everyone is a HYBE Stan just for being able to see the facts as they are here.

*Bonus point 11. MHJ is an objectively horrible person. Her behavior and relationship with NJ is at the least unprofessional, but honestly amounts to some degree of abuse. If MHJ was a man, saying the girls called and cried with him, had sleepovers at his house, stayed late in hotel rooms with him, had established himself in their eyes as their “father/daddy", everyone would be ready to (rightfully) burn him at the stake. It needs to be understood that women can be abusers of girls too. Abuse is abuse, whether the abuser is male or female.

I would like to point out that (the Assembly Member specifically stated) [64]

"From our perspective, we are not releasing (the full text) because there are things that make us think 'how are they doing things like this." (If anyone wants to translate and fact check me, the article states, "민 의원은 “저희가 보기에는 어떻

게 이렇게 할 수 있지 싶은 내용들이 있어 (전문을) 공개하지 않는 것.”")

These are the *only* documents released by the National Assembly, to the best of my knowledge and there are no plans to release further material.

Why the HYBE Internal Report Is Criticized:

Defamatory and biased content Appearance and personal attacks:

The report was criticized for: containing appearance evaluations, private life controversies, and skill evaluations about idols from other companies, directed at another idol.

Harsh, insulting tone: Redditors described it as containing numerous defamatory content and said it included numerous defamatory content directed at other idols.”

Not limited to one side: Some commenters said the report also included critique of HYBE’s own artists, which made it look less like neutral analysis and more like broad fan driven judgment. Hybe’ s own idols were also critiqued.

Lack of objectivity:

Presented as internal analysis but disputed as opinion: One commenter argued the document was an analysis of the online hate comments rather than HYBE’s stance while others still criticized its framing as misleading and not objective. The document is an analysis of the online hate comments.

Seen as a bad faith corporate practice: Another comment said the report was used for “ handling online criticism of idols,” which made it seem like a monitoring tool shaped by public sentiment rather than a fair internal assessment. Showing how Hybe monitors and responds to public opinion.

Effect on idols and public trust

Targets entertainers with public humiliation: Critics said the report singled out idols for their looks, performance , and alleged personal issues, which many saw as unfairly amplifying hate. “ Specific idols, particularly from SM Entertainment and JYP, were targeted with negative comments about their looks, plastic surgery, and stage performances.”

Raises defamation concerns: The contents were described as potentially exposing HYBE to legal and reputational harm because the language was viewed as insulting and damaging due to its insulting nature and the mention of specific idols

HYBE INTERNAL REPORT LEAKED:

HYBE INTERNAL REPORT LEAKED

This document was part of evidence submitted in a recent National Assembly audit.

The Summary:
Hybe's internal "Music Industry Report" contains defamatory comments about idols from other entertainment companies, focusing on their appearance, skills, and personal lives. The report, released weekly, was written by the editor of Weverse Magazine and has been criticized for its harsh and biased evaluations. Specific idols, particularly from SM Entertainment and JYP, were targeted with negative comments about their looks, plastic surgery, and stage performances. Hybe's own idols were also critiqued, including remarks about self-doubt and personal insecurities. The report includes strategies for handling online criticism of idols, showing how Hybe monitors and responds to public opinion.

Former Adore CEO Min Heejin had previously raised concerns about the report's lack of objectivity and factual basis. Legal experts have suggested the content could lead to defamation claims due to its insulting nature and the mention of specific idols. It has been confirmed that Hive's industry trend report, written for internal reporting purposes, contains numerous defamatory content directed at other idols. Some of the contents of the weekly 'Music Industry Report' for Hive executives' review, which was disclosed during the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee's comprehensive state audit on the 24th and obtained by our newspaper, include information such as appearance evaluations, private life controversies, and skill evaluations of idols from other entertainment agencies, organized in a report format.

This report, which is reported in a weekly format, was reportedly written by Mr. A, who used to work as a music critic and is currently the editor-in-chief of Weverse Magazine, published by Weverse Company, a subsidiary of Hybe.

Also, along with Hive's 'R U NEXT', 'Information about a new SM Entertainment girl group suddenly started circulating, and about 8 candidates were narrowed down, but surprisingly, none of them were pretty. I thought it was because the trainee infrastructure was worse than ○○○○○○, but when I think about how everyone was shocked by the looks when group ○○○ debuted, I wonder if SM Entertainment's aesthetics itself have changed. In addition, he mentioned the group ○○○ under SM Entertainment and reported, "Most attacks on ○○○ can be defended against with ○○○. If someone says someone is ugly, they respond with a picture of member ○○ from the past, and if someone says ○○ can't dance, they show ○○, who is still dancing, and so on. This is a pattern that has already passed on DC Inside."

Evaluations of Other Companies

Evaluations of Other Companies’ Idols and Hive’s Own Artists

Hive also gave an evaluation of their own idols. They said, "○○ is a person who talks a bit about latte, perhaps because he has a lot of self-doubt, but I think he's someone who secretly needs attention in that regard." In addition, it was confirmed that the report contained defamatory content about idols affiliated with Hive and those from other companies on online communities and social networking services (SNS), as well as online viral strategies and response policies for such content.

At the time, Hive said, "The industry trend report is an internal document that collects and analyzes subjective reactions and issues from consumers in addition to quantitative indicators such as chart performance, and then suggests suggestions for improvement," adding, "It does not represent Hive's position or evaluation of artists."

Background of the Report

The leaked HYBE internal report was part of a weekly “Music Industry Report” used internally for executive review. It combined quantitative indicators, like chart performance, with qualitative assessments of idols and trends. While its stated purpose was to summarize public opinion and industry trends, it included highly subjective commentary by the report’s author.

Former Adore CEO Min Heejin had previously criticized the report for lacking objectivity and factual basis. She argued that the report should rely on measurable data rather than the personal opinions of a single editor.

Defamatory Content on Other Idols

The report contained multiple personal attacks on idols from other companies, particularly SM Entertainment and JYP. It focused on appearance, stage skills, and private life controversies.

Some of the commentary included harsh assessments of looks, such as calling members “ugly” or comparing their appearance unfavorably to past groups. Plastic surgery and sexualized appearance were also discussed, often in a demeaning tone. Stage performance skills were criticized, sometimes using specific examples from shows or live events.

The language used in these sections was seen as potentially defamatory because it mentioned specific idols by name, combining rumor, subjective opinion, and online fan commentary.

HYBE’s Own Idols and Internal Commentary

The report did not only focus on idols from other companies. HYBE also evaluated their own artists, including remarks about personal insecurities and behaviors:

One comment stated, “○○ is a person who talks a bit about latte, perhaps because he has a lot of self-doubt, but I think he's someone who secretly needs attention in that regard.”
The report included defamatory content about both HYBE idols and those from other companies, gathered from online communities and social media. It also outlined strategies for responding to viral content and online commentary.

Former ADOR CEO Min Heejin raised concerns about the report, stating that it lacked credibility and objectivity. She argued that internal documents should be fact-based rather than editorialized opinions, questioning why such content was distributed to executives.

HYBE responded that the document was intended to summarize both quantitative data (like chart performance) and qualitative public opinion, not to reflect the company’s official stance.

Legal experts noted that the inclusion of insulting language and real names could constitute defamation, especially since the report was leaked externally.

An exchange during the National Assembly audit highlighted the confusion around the document:

Min Hyung-bae: “Are you saying it’s not an internal document from HYBE? But it is!”
Kim Taeho: “It is true that the document was written internally at HYBE, but it’s not our stance; it’s simply a summary of public opinions on the internet.”
Min Hyung-bae: “But why did you use such terms then?”
Kim Tae-ho: “As I said, we didn’t write that content ourselves.”
Min Hyung-bae: “But you just said it’s an internal document!”
Kim Tae-ho: “Yes, it’s our document.”
Min Hyung-bae: “Then why do you keep saying it’s not HYBE’s stance?”
Kim Tae-ho: “The document is ours, but I’m telling you again, the content doesn’t reflect our views.”

This exchange demonstrates the difficulty in separating internal reporting from perceived corporate responsibility.

External Sharing and Legal Implications

The report, though intended for internal executives only, was leaked during the National Assembly audit. This caused both a PR issue for HYBE and raised legal concerns:

HYBE COO admitted that some of the content originated from staff commentary and not official corporate statements.
Portions of the document were leaked to the National Assembly, which added public scrutiny and controversy.
Legal experts, including Attorney Jong-eon Noh, noted that insulting expressions and references to real idols could be considered defamation or insult under Korean law.
The leak raised the possibility that employees beyond the intended executive audience had access to sensitive content, increasing the potential liability for HYBE.

The leak also involved emails showing that Chairman Bang Si-hyuk personally requested certain individuals, including Zico, be added to the sharing list. Former CEO of ADOR, Min Heejin, has been implicated as a possible source due to her access, motive, and prior documentation connecting her to the report.

HYBE’s stance emphasized that:

The data collection and monitoring were standard industry practice.
The personal commentary in the report was the responsibility of the individual author, not the company.
The company acknowledged that some of the commentary was unprofessional and took action by terminating the employee responsible.

This situation highlights the tension between internal data analysis and public perception, showing how quickly internal commentary can escalate into legal and reputational risks when leaked.

Do you want me to continue with the “Purpose and Criticism of the Report” section next?

Purpose and Criticism of the Report

The HYBE internal report was created to monitor trends in the K-pop industry, focusing on both positive and negative discussions about idols across online communities. Its stated purposes included:

Tracking fan opinions and viral topics to anticipate controversies.
Identifying competitive advantages by analyzing group dynamics and public sentiment.
Offering executives insights for strategic decision-making regarding promotions, public relations, and content planning.

Despite this stated purpose, the report faced criticism for several reasons:

Defamatory and Biased Content

Included harsh evaluations of idols’ appearances, personal lives, and skills.
Targeted idols from SM Entertainment and JYP with negative comments on looks, plastic surgery, and performances.
Even HYBE’s own idols were critiqued, particularly highlighting self-doubt or insecurities.

Lack of Objectivity

The report mixed online hate commentary with the editor’s personal opinions.
Though framed as internal analysis, it was seen by some as misleading or presenting biased judgments as facts.
Critics argued it blurred the line between monitoring trends and endorsing harsh personal evaluations.

Public Perception and Ethical Concerns

The report amplified negative opinions that could harm idols’ reputations.
Raised questions about corporate responsibility and ethical monitoring practices.
Some viewed the monitoring as a form of bad-faith corporate behavior, potentially normalizing public humiliation of entertainers.

Overall, while the report had strategic purposes, its execution and content drew significant scrutiny, highlighting the risk of combining public sentiment tracking with editorialized commentary.

Internal Reactions and Assembly Transcript

The HYBE internal report became a focus during the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee’s audit, revealing the internal handling and external scrutiny of the document.

Executive Statements

HYBE Officials’ Position: They stated the report summarized online public opinions and did not reflect the company’s official stance.
CEO Kim Taeho: Repeatedly clarified that while the document was HYBE’s internal material, the content represented trends and discussions online rather than corporate judgments.
COO Admission: Acknowledged that some content in the report was created internally, particularly editorialized commentary, while blaming “some staff” for inappropriate sections.

Assembly Member Interaction

A transcript from the audit highlighted tension and confusion:

Min Hyung-bae (Assembly Member): Pressed HYBE executives on why offensive terms were used and why the document was framed as an internal report.
Kim Taeho: Maintained the report summarized public sentiment, not corporate opinion.
Back-and-forth: Min Hyung-bae repeatedly questioned the logic, emphasizing that it was still an internal HYBE document, while Kim Taeho tried to distinguish the report’s content from official company positions.

Implications

Exposed HYBE executives to questions about corporate oversight, internal monitoring, and responsibility for defamatory content.
Highlighted the complexity of internal trend reports versus editorialized commentary in the eyes of public authorities.
Showed the potential risks when internal documents are leaked, even if the company claims the content does not represent official opinions.

Legal Concerns and Defamation Issues

The content of HYBE’s internal report raised questions about potential legal liability and defamation claims.

Defamatory Content

The report included appearance evaluations, personal life controversies, and skill assessments of idols from other companies.
Specific remarks targeted idols from SM Entertainment and JYP, including comments on plastic surgery, looks, and stage performance.
HYBE’s own idols were also critiqued, with notes on self-doubt and personal insecurities.

Legal Expert Opinions

Attorney Jong-eon Noh: Stated that insulting expressions and false facts, especially those mentioning real names, could constitute defamation or insult.
Leaked content posed legal risks since it was accessible to individuals beyond the intended executive audience.

Internal Concerns

Former ADOR CEO Min Heejin criticized the report’s lack of objectivity, emphasizing that internal documentation should maintain factual accuracy.
Despite being presented as trend monitoring, the report’s editorialized commentary made it vulnerable to misinterpretation as HYBE’s official stance.

Key Takeaways

Internal monitoring reports with editorialized opinions carry legal risk if leaked externally.
Distinguishing between company opinion and individual commentary is crucial, especially when sensitive evaluations of identifiable persons are included.
The leak exposed HYBE to reputational and legal scrutiny, prompting firings and public clarification.

Document Leak and Public Response

The leak of HYBE’s internal report sparked controversy due to its sensitive content and the implications for the company.

Leak Details

Portions of the report, containing the most critical commentary, were leaked externally.
The leak revealed both the negative online commentary and editorialized summaries written by the report’s author.
It is presumed that the leak was connected to former ADOR CEO Min Heejin due to her access and involvement with related documents.

Public and Political Reaction

During the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit, lawmakers questioned HYBE executives about the document.
Transcript Highlights:

Lawmakers repeatedly pressed HYBE representatives on why the document used offensive language.
HYBE claimed the content reflected public online sentiment, not company stance.
Contradictions in statements led to confusion, with HYBE admitting the document was theirs but asserting it did not represent corporate opinion.

Corporate Response

HYBE acknowledged the personal commentary was unprofessional.
The responsible employee was terminated.
The company emphasized that monitoring both positive and negative public commentary is standard practice, but the rude commentary was not official corporate content.

Summary of Implications

The leak created a PR crisis for HYBE, highlighting the potential risks of internal documents being exposed externally.
While the report itself was standard practice in industry monitoring, the editorialized insults caused reputational damage and legal concern.
HYBE reiterated that the corporation did not engage in crafting negative viral marketing or personal attacks; these were the views of the report’s author alone.

Purpose of the Report and Industry Context

The internal report served as a tool for HYBE to monitor industry trends and public sentiment about idols.

Report Objectives

Track trending topics, controversies, and fan reactions across online K-pop communities.
Identify opportunities for promotion or areas where competitive groups may be vulnerable.
Help executives make informed decisions about public relations, marketing, and artist management.

Industry Practices

Similar monitoring reports are standard across major K-pop companies and other competitive industries.
Reports typically include quantitative data (charts, sales, engagement metrics) and qualitative observations (fan reactions, media trends).
Personal commentary from individual authors is common, though it should not reflect company policy.

Editorial Commentary

The report combined online data with the author’s own opinions.
Some commentary was highly personal, including critiques on appearance, stage performance, and alleged behavior of idols from other companies.
While controversial, the purpose was to summarize online sentiment and not necessarily to create viral content or defame idols deliberately.

Industry Implications

By analyzing both positive and negative fan discussions, companies aim to anticipate controversies and adjust strategies.
However, the inclusion of harsh personal opinions blurred the line between objective monitoring and subjective evaluation.
This raised questions about corporate responsibility and the ethical limits of internal reporting.

Content of the Report: Criticisms and Observations

The HYBE internal report included detailed commentary on both other companies’ idols and their own artists.

Criticisms of Other Idols

Appearance: The report evaluated idols’ looks, sometimes harshly, using terms like “ugly” or “unattractive” for specific groups and members.
Plastic Surgery: Commentary highlighted suspected cosmetic procedures, often speculating on how these affected mental resilience or public perception.
Stage Performance: Idols’ dancing and singing skills were analyzed, with some remarks dismissing live performance capabilities or consistency.
Variety Show Appearances: The report critiqued on-screen behavior and “synergy” with group members, sometimes negatively comparing them to amateur performances.

Criticisms of HYBE Idols

Personal Traits: Some comments focused on self-doubt, attention-seeking behaviors, or other personal insecurities of HYBE’s own idols.
Stage and Public Perception: Certain notes reflected internal observations on how HYBE idols were perceived online, both positively and negatively.

Online and Social Media Strategies

Monitoring: The report tracked online discussions and viral trends about both HYBE and non-HYBE idols.
Response Planning: It outlined methods for addressing criticism or leveraging favorable discussions.
Editorial Notes: Some content was based on the author’s personal summaries rather than objective data, which created potential for bias.

Key Observations

The report was described as a mixture of fan commentary, professional analysis, and personal opinion.
While intended as internal guidance, the tone and wording of some sections were seen as insulting or defamatory.
The inclusion of personal attacks on specific idols contributed to concerns about legality and corporate ethics.

Legal and Ethical Concerns Surrounding the Report

Defamation Risks

The report named specific idols from other companies and included insulting language.
Legal experts noted that mentioning real names alongside negative evaluations could constitute defamation or insult.
Both HYBE and the individual author faced scrutiny over potential legal liability for content in the report.

Objectivity and Credibility

Former ADOR CEO Min Heejin criticized the report for lacking factual basis and objectivity.
The report mixed subjective opinions, online fan commentary, and internal observations without clear distinction.
Some internal voices argued that a credible report should rely on quantitative metrics rather than personal impressions.

Internal Accountability

HYBE executives claimed the report summarized online opinions and did not reflect company stance.
The COO admitted pushing content but attempted to deflect responsibility to individual staff members.
The author of the harsh commentary was eventually fired for unprofessional remarks.

Public and Industry Reactions

The leak of the report caused reputational concerns for HYBE.
Critics highlighted the ethical issue of monitoring and documenting personal attacks on minors and other entertainers.
Some argued that even if the report was internal, the tone and content were inappropriate for a corporate environment.

Distribution, Leak, and Official Responses

Intended Audience

The report was designed for top and mid-level executives within HYBE.
It was not meant for general employees or the public, as it contained sensitive and harsh commentary from online communities.

Leak and Exposure

Portions of the report were leaked externally, highlighting the most critical and vile commentary.
The leak caused a PR issue for HYBE, as the internal document contained statements that could be interpreted as the company’s stance.
Speculation suggests the leak may have come from someone with motive and access, potentially tied to internal disputes (e.g., Min Heejin and Team Bernies).

National Assembly Audit

The document surfaced during the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee’s audit.
Lawmakers questioned HYBE executives on the authorship and intent behind the report.
Executives repeatedly stated that the document reflected online opinions, not HYBE’s official judgment.

Company Response

HYBE emphasized that the report was for monitoring trends and public sentiment.
The company admitted the personal commentary from the author was unprofessional and took corrective action.
Statements highlighted that data collection (both positive and negative) is standard practice, but editorialized personal attacks are not.

Content of the Report: Idol Information

Content of the Report: Idols, Commentary, and Online Monitoring

Commentary on Other Idols

Criticisms targeted idols from SM Entertainment and JYP, focusing on appearance, stage skills, and private lives.
Examples included harsh evaluations of looks (“synergy of ugliness is unbearable”) and comments on trainee infrastructure or plastic surgery.
Some critiques referenced specific past performances to compare skills or defense logic within fandoms.

HYBE’s Own Idols

The report also analyzed HYBE idols, noting self-doubt or personality traits.
Comments highlighted perceived insecurities, attention-seeking behaviors, and online public perception.

Monitoring Public Opinion

The document included strategies for handling online criticism and analyzing trends.
Both positive and negative commentary from social media and online communities were collected.
Editorial summaries were added by the author to provide context or personal insight, sometimes including harsh language.

Legal and Ethical Concerns Raised by the Report

Potential Defamation

The report mentioned real names of idols from other companies and included insulting expressions.
Legal experts warned these statements could constitute defamation or insult.

Lack of Objectivity

Former Adore CEO Min Heejin criticized the report for bias and lack of factual grounding.
The document was presented as internal analysis but included personal commentary from the author, not HYBE’s official stance.

Internal vs External Access

Intended for top or mid-level executives only; leaking to others (or public) caused potential legal and PR issues.
Attorney Jong-eon Noh noted that unauthorized access by employees beyond executives could have legal implications.

Corporate Responsibility Debate

HYBE maintained the report reflected online public opinion, not company judgment.
Critics argued that distributing the report internally, even with disclaimers, could normalize harmful commentary or influence company decisions.

Reactions and Public Perception of the Leak

Public Outrage and Media Attention
The leaked HYBE internal report immediately drew significant attention from both the media and the K-pop community. Outlets described the document as containing highly defamatory content, particularly targeting idols from other entertainment companies. Online discussions highlighted the harsh language used to evaluate appearance, stage skills, and personal lives, with many viewers expressing disbelief that such content had been created and circulated internally.

K-pop Community Response
Fans and netizens criticized the report for singling out idols for scrutiny, amplifying online hate, and focusing on topics such as plastic surgery, looks, and perceived shortcomings in performance. Many noted that while HYBE’s own artists were also critiqued, the targeting of rival companies’ idols made the report appear malicious and biased. Social media threads dissected specific examples from the document, and discussions arose about how such internal monitoring practices could impact public trust and idol well-being.

Legal and Ethical Concerns Raised
Legal experts weighed in on the potential defamation implications of the report, pointing out that mentioning real names in a derogatory context could expose HYBE to lawsuits. Commentators argued that, despite the document being intended for internal use, its leak made the content publicly damaging, and the authorship of some comments (editorialized by the report’s writer) could carry personal accountability.

Perception of Industry Practices
Some observers contextualized the report within broader K-pop industry norms, noting that monitoring online sentiment and collecting both positive and negative commentary is a common practice. However, the overtly personal, insulting commentary was widely seen as unprofessional and unnecessary, raising questions about corporate ethics and internal oversight.

HYBE’s Internal Statements and CEO Comments

Corporate Response
HYBE responded publicly to the leak, emphasizing that the report was an internal document meant to summarize public sentiment rather than reflect the company’s official stance. Officials highlighted that the content was intended for executives and top-level managers only, and the editorialized personal commentary was the responsibility of the report’s author, not HYBE as a corporation.

CEO and Executive Remarks
CEO Kim Taeho stated that the document was “ours, but it doesn’t reflect HYBE’s views” and described it as a summary of online reactions, not an official evaluation of artists. He defended the practice as standard monitoring of public opinion but acknowledged that some of the language used in the report was unprofessional.

Acknowledgement of Staff Accountability
HYBE confirmed that the employee responsible for the defamatory commentary within the report was dismissed. The company clarified that while collecting online data—including fan reactions and criticisms—is normal in the industry, the offensive personal commentary was not sanctioned by the company.

COO Admissions
The COO admitted to pushing certain albums while presenting the report to the National Assembly but attempted to deflect blame to staff members. This further fueled criticism regarding the oversight and professionalism of internal practices at HYBE.

Internal vs. Public Framing
HYBE repeatedly stressed that the report’s content, although created internally, was not indicative of the company’s official opinions on artists. Executives highlighted the distinction between monitoring online sentiment and producing formal evaluations or marketing strategies.

Legal Implications and Defamation Concerns

Potential Defamation Issues
Legal experts highlighted that the report’s content, which included specific mentions of idols from SM Entertainment, JYP, and even HYBE’s own artists, could constitute defamation or insult. The language used—such as commenting on appearance, plastic surgery, and personal insecurities—was considered potentially actionable under South Korean law.

Use of Real Names
The report included the real names of specific idols alongside subjective evaluations, which amplified legal risks. Attorney Jong-eon Noh noted that even if the report was internal, leaking the document externally could expose the company to liability.

External Leak Consequences
The leak during the National Assembly audit intensified concerns, as employees outside the executive circle may have accessed the content. This raised questions about internal controls, confidentiality, and potential corporate liability for the dissemination of defamatory material.

Public Perception and Reputation
The document’s circulation risked damaging HYBE’s reputation by suggesting that the company officially endorsed the harsh commentary, even though executives clarified otherwise. Critics argued that the framing of the report as an “analysis of public opinion” was insufficient to mitigate reputational harm, especially when offensive personal opinions were interwoven with collected data.

Content and Tone of the Report

Appearance and Personal Critiques
The report contained harsh evaluations of idols’ looks, often using derogatory language. Comments included phrases like “They debuted at a young age when the members were still ugly” and “The synergy of ugliness is unbearable.” These assessments targeted idols from SM Entertainment and JYP, focusing on facial features, plastic surgery, and stage presence.

Stage Performance Evaluations
Beyond appearance, the report critiqued idols’ skills. Statements included assessments of live performance abilities, dance skills, and overall stage presence. Some evaluations referenced fan defense patterns and viral online arguments, highlighting specific members’ perceived weaknesses or strengths.

Internal Idol Commentary
HYBE’s own artists were also evaluated. For example, one member was described as “a person who talks a bit about latte, perhaps because he has a lot of self-doubt, but secretly needs attention.” These critiques, though about internal artists, were mixed with online commentary to create subjective insights.

Editorialized Summaries
The report combined collected online opinions with editorial commentary from the author. While the stated purpose was to monitor trends and fan sentiment, much of the language reflected personal judgment rather than objective analysis. Critics considered this mixture of public opinion and editorialization one of the report’s most controversial aspects.

Internal Distribution and Executive Responses

Intended Audience
The report was designed for top and mid-level executives only. It was not meant for broader employee access or public release, due to the inclusion of raw online commentary and strong language. The purpose was to provide insights on trends, potential controversies, and areas of opportunity in the K-pop industry.

Leak and Public Exposure
At least portions of the report were leaked to the National Assembly. This leak highlighted the most inflammatory commentary, creating a PR issue for HYBE. The leak is suspected to be linked to individuals with access to confidential files, though the exact source remains unclear.

Executive Statements
HYBE executives clarified the report did not represent the company’s official stance. For example, Kim Taeho stated repeatedly that while the document was written internally, the content summarized online public opinions and did not reflect HYBE’s views. This led to a confusing exchange with assembly members who questioned the document’s purpose and authenticity.

CEO Involvement
Emails showed that Chairman Bang Si-hyuk directed the inclusion of certain artists, such as Zico, on the report’s sharing list. Other high-level executives, including those at ADOR, also received the report, indicating its distribution was limited but intentional among top management.

Accountability for Content
HYBE acknowledged that the author’s personal commentary was unprofessional and fired the individual responsible. The company emphasized that the data collection itself is standard industry practice, but the editorialized insults were not.

Legal and Ethical Concerns

Defamation and Insult Risks
Legal experts noted that the report contained insulting expressions and false claims about specific idols from other companies. Because real names were mentioned alongside negative personal commentary, the content could potentially be considered defamatory under South Korean law.

Internal Criticism
Former ADOR CEO Min Heejin had previously raised objections, emphasizing the lack of objectivity. She highlighted that the report relied on one editor’s opinions rather than factual analysis and warned that distributing such biased content to executives was inappropriate.

Handling Online Criticism
The report also outlined strategies for monitoring and responding to online commentary. Critics argued that using these insights to “manage” public perception could be seen as a corporate practice in bad faith, potentially amplifying harmful online behavior rather than addressing it responsibly.

Public and Political Response
During the National Assembly audit, lawmakers questioned the purpose and framing of the report. Confusion arose as HYBE executives tried to clarify that the document summarized public opinions rather than representing corporate views, which some saw as evasive.

Gender and Abuse Considerations
The report’s controversy also intersected with concerns about abuse and power dynamics. Observers noted that unprofessional behavior by executives, particularly involving young female artists, can constitute abuse regardless of gender, highlighting ethical lapses beyond mere commentary.

Industry Context and Standard Practices

Internal Reports in K-pop
The HYBE “Music Industry Report” is part of a common practice across K-pop companies. Reports like this track trends, fan sentiment, and performance metrics to guide strategy, identify opportunities, and anticipate controversies. They typically include both positive and negative commentary collected from online communities, media outlets, and social media.

Purpose of the Report

Monitor online discussions about idols and groups.
Assess competitive positioning compared to other entertainment companies.
Suggest internal strategies for managing public perception and controversies.
Identify emerging trends, popular topics, or potential PR risks.

Editorialized Content vs. Company Stance
While the document contains some personal commentary from the author (Editor A), it does not officially represent HYBE’s corporate opinion. Some of the harsh or defamatory statements were made by the author, not the company as a whole. HYBE executives reviewed the report for strategic purposes, not to spread insults publicly.

Standard Practice in Competitive Industries
Similar sentiment analyses and internal trend reports exist in many competitive sectors, not just K-pop. Companies collect public feedback and commentary to guide decision-making, product launches, and reputation management. The key distinction is that such internal reports are meant for executive review and are not intended for public release.

Key Takeaways

Reports contain raw data from fan communities, including both positive and negative opinions.
Personal commentary in such reports should not be assumed to reflect the company’s official views.
Distribution is limited to senior executives to guide strategy, not to publicly defame other artists.

Summary of Findings and HYBE’s Response

Defamatory and Biased Content

The report contained appearance evaluations, private life controversies, and skill assessments of idols from other companies.
Specific targets included SM Entertainment and JYP idols, with comments about looks, alleged plastic surgery, and stage performances.
HYBE’s own artists were also critiqued, including remarks about self-doubt and personal insecurities.

Harsh Tone and Language

Statements were often insulting, derogatory, and demeaning.
Some comments discussed sensitive topics, including sexuality and mental health, in a way that was inappropriate and unprofessional.

Objectivity Concerns

Former Adore CEO Min Heejin criticized the report for lacking objectivity, factual basis, and credibility.
Although presented as internal analysis, the report contained personal editorialized opinions from the author, not the company.
HYBE acknowledged the commentary was unprofessional and terminated the employee responsible for the content.

Purpose vs. Misinterpretation

HYBE stated the report was intended to summarize public sentiment and trending topics online, not to reflect the company’s official stance.
The document aimed to help executives anticipate controversies and plan responses, including handling online criticism.
Experts noted that while collecting fan opinions is standard, adding personal insults crosses professional boundaries.

Legal and Reputational Risks

Attorney Jong-eon Noh highlighted that including insulting expressions and real names could constitute defamation or insult.
Leaks of the document externally created a potential PR and legal issue for HYBE.
The National Assembly review confirmed that some statements were defamatory and criticized the framing and tone.

HYBE’s Position

CEO Kim Taeho and other executives clarified that the report is owned by HYBE but does not reflect the company’s official opinions.
COO admitted certain content was created internally but blamed specific staff for editorialized statements.
HYBE emphasized that the internal report is a monitoring tool and should remain confidential for executives’ strategic purposes.

Additional Observations

Leaked portions highlighted the most extreme and offensive commentary rather than a representative sample of the report.
The report included strategies for responding to online discussions and managing public perception of idols.
Industry norms accept internal monitoring of public sentiment, but using insulting or defamatory language is widely seen as inappropriate.

Impact on Idols and Public Perception

Targeting and Public Humiliation

Specific idols were singled out for appearance, stage skills, and personal issues.
Critics argue that even internal discussions can amplify online hate and negatively affect the targeted idols’ reputations.
Comments included direct assessments of plastic surgery, alleged mental strain, and aesthetic critiques, particularly for SM Entertainment and JYP idols.

Effect on HYBE’s Own Artists

The report also contained commentary on HYBE’s own idols, describing self-doubt or behavior needing attention.
Inclusion of internal artists shows the report was not strictly “fan commentary aggregation” but also had subjective internal judgments.

Legal Concerns

Legal experts warned that naming real individuals and including false or insulting statements could expose HYBE to defamation claims.
The combination of private internal use and eventual leak raises questions about responsibility and liability.

Public Trust and Industry Reputation

The leak fueled scrutiny over K-pop companies’ internal monitoring practices.
Some viewed the report as a standard industry trend analysis, while others saw it as a misuse of corporate authority to judge peers publicly.
Transparency issues arose because the report mixed objective metrics with editorialized insults.

Perception of Internal Culture

The document suggests a culture where internal reports include both data-driven insights and personal, unfiltered opinions.
Critics argue this blurs the line between professional assessment and toxic commentary, potentially shaping management decisions based on biased opinions rather than facts.

HYBE’s Clarifications and Internal Measures

Company Response

HYBE stated the report was meant for internal executive review only.
The company emphasized that the content did not reflect HYBE’s official stance or judgments about artists.
The report was described as summarizing public opinions and online commentary, not creating company-driven evaluations.

Acknowledgment of Issues

HYBE admitted that some personal commentary from the author was unprofessional.
The employee responsible for editorialized insults was terminated.
The company acknowledged that while data collection is standard, subjective and defamatory remarks are not acceptable corporate practice.

Distribution Control

Originally intended for top or mid-level executives only.
Leaks to external parties, including the National Assembly, were unauthorized and caused PR and legal concerns.
Internal measures to prevent future leaks were implied but not fully detailed publicly.

Defense and Context

HYBE framed the report as a monitoring tool: tracking trends, fan sentiment, and online reactions to optimize artist strategies.
The company stressed that it is common in competitive industries to analyze both positive and negative commentary.
Emphasized the distinction between compiling online opinions versus endorsing them.

Legislative Audit Interaction

During the National Assembly audit, HYBE executives repeatedly clarified that the document was internal and not reflective of corporate opinion.
Transcripts show repeated attempts to distinguish between the author’s personal commentary and the company’s official stance.

Legal and Ethical Implications of the Report

Potential Defamation

The report included insulting remarks and false facts about specific idols from other companies.
Legal experts warned that using real names and personal critiques could constitute defamation or insult under Korean law.
Comments targeting appearance, skills, and personal lives were particularly problematic.

Industry Norms vs. Responsibility

Collecting public sentiment is standard in K-pop and other competitive industries.
Editorialized, biased, or insulting commentary by an employee is the company’s responsibility to manage internally.
While monitoring fan opinions is acceptable, publishing subjective insults as part of internal reports raises ethical concerns.

Effect on Idols and Public Trust

Reports risked publicly humiliating idols and undermining trust between companies and artists.
Even when framed as internal, leaks exposed sensitive opinions, potentially affecting reputations and fan relationships.

Whistleblower Context

The leak highlighted the role of internal whistleblowers and conflicts, with speculation regarding former Adore CEO Min Heejin’s involvement.
Raises questions about corporate accountability, confidentiality, and ethical monitoring practices.

Specific Content Criticism and Examples

Specific Content Criticism and Examples from the Report

Appearance and Personal Attacks

The report included harsh evaluations of idols’ looks, calling some “ugly” or comparing them to “middle school talent shows.”
SM and JYP girl groups were singled out for alleged plastic surgery and perceived lack of stage appeal.
Critiques extended to fan-favorite idols, referencing appearance and behavior in ways that could be seen as humiliating.

Stage Skills and Performance Evaluations

Idols’ dancing and live performance abilities were assessed, sometimes negatively.
Example: Comments stated that a group’s fandom defense logic was “shattered by Coachella,” implying poor performance management.
These critiques combined online fan sentiment with the author’s personal interpretation.

Internal HYBE Idol Evaluations

HYBE artists were also evaluated, including remarks about self-doubt or need for attention.
Commentary was intended for internal use but included personal observations rather than objective metrics.

Editorial vs. Data Collection

Some content summarized public opinion, while other parts were editorialized by the report’s author.
This blurred lines between monitoring trends and making subjective judgments.

Public and Legal Reactions

Criticism from Former Adore CEO
Former Adore CEO Min Heejin raised concerns about the report’s lack of objectivity and credibility. She stated that the weekly internal reports circulated by Editor A contained biased content, and emphasized that facts, numbers, and minimal objectivity should have been maintained.

Legal Opinions
Attorney Jong-eon Noh from the law firm Jongeon noted that the report included numerous insulting expressions and false facts, mentioning specific idols by name. He said this could potentially constitute insult or defamation.

National Assembly Audit
The report was disclosed during the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee’s state audit on the 24th. Lawmakers questioned why such reports are reviewed weekly. HYBE representatives stated that the report summarizes public opinion online and does not represent HYBE’s official stance.

HYBE’s Clarification
HYBE stated that the content disclosed during the audit included both industry trends and slanderous commentary. They emphasized that the report was edited for executives’ review and did not reflect the company’s official opinions.

COO Admission
HYBE’s COO admitted that some of the commentary in the report was created by staff and not officially by the company. The COO acknowledged pushing the album in front of the National Assembly but blamed certain content on “some staff.”

Internal Debate and Transcript

Lawmaker Questions
During the audit, a conversation took place between lawmaker Min Hyung-bae and Kim Taeho from HYBE:

Min Hyung-bae: “Are you saying it’s not an internal document from HYBE? But it is!”
Kim Taeho: “It is true that the document was written internally at HYBE, but it’s not our stance; it’s simply a summary of public opinions on the internet.”
Min Hyung-bae: “But why did you use such terms then?”
Kim Tae-ho: “As I said, we didn’t write that content ourselves.”
Min Hyung-bae: “But you just said it’s an internal document!”
Kim Tae-ho: “Yes, it’s our document.”
Min Hyung-bae: “Then why do you keep saying it’s not HYBE’s stance?”
Kim Tae-ho: “The document is ours, but I’m telling you again, the content doesn’t reflect our views.”

This transcript highlighted confusion and raised concerns about responsibility and accountability for the report.

Political Commentary
Observers noted that the exchange reflected either ignorance or deliberate obfuscation by officials, since sentiment analysis is a standard tool in politics and industry.

Bang Si-hyuk’s Involvement
Email records showed that Chairman Bang Si-hyuk personally instructed that certain idols, including Zico, be added to the report sharing list. Recipients included executives like Kim Jooyoung, the then-CHRO of ADOR.

Summary of Purpose
The internal report tracked trends and opinions in online K-pop communities for strategy purposes, a practice common across entertainment companies. It contained both positive and negative commentary, with some harsh editorialized opinions from the author.

HYBE’s Position
HYBE emphasized that:

The document was for executives only.
Personal commentary from the author is not representative of HYBE.
The rude commentary is unprofessional and the responsible employee was dismissed.

Leak and Public Impact
An executive leaked portions of the report to the National Assembly, causing a PR issue. Despite the leak, it was clarified that the company itself did not craft negative viral commentary.

Additional Notes
The report included controversial opinions from fans, some of which were offensive or abusive. However, collecting such data is considered standard industry practice, though distributing it internally with editorialized content crosses ethical boundaries.

Criticism and Public Reaction

Defamatory and Biased Content
The report faced criticism for:

Appearance evaluations and personal attacks on idols from other companies.
Harsh, insulting language, with some comments described as demeaning or offensive.
Inclusion of critiques of HYBE’s own artists, which made the report appear less like neutral analysis and more like subjective judgment.

Lack of Objectivity

The document was framed as internal analysis but heavily editorialized by the author.
Some argued it misrepresented HYBE’s stance, even though it was presented to executives.
Critics described the report as a corporate tool for monitoring online sentiment rather than conducting fair internal assessments.

Effect on Idols and Public Trust

Idols were publicly singled out for looks, stage skills, and personal issues, raising concerns about amplifying online hate.
Legal experts suggested the content could expose HYBE to defamation claims due to its insulting nature and the mention of specific idols.

Industry Context

Collecting and analyzing public opinion is standard practice in K-pop and other competitive industries.
The editorialized, harsh commentary from the author is considered unprofessional, but the data collection itself is typical for internal strategy purposes.

Takeaways

The report illustrates the tension between internal monitoring of fan and public sentiment versus the ethical responsibilities of a company toward artists.
While data collection is normal, distributing editorialized, insulting commentary—even internally—raises serious concerns for corporate ethics and idol welfare.

HYBE Response and Accountability

Official Statements

HYBE stated the report was intended for internal executive review only.
They emphasized that the content does not represent HYBE’s official stance or evaluation of artists.
A HYBE official noted the report included both industry trends and slanderous content from online sources, clarifying it was a monitoring summary.

Employee Responsibility

HYBE admitted the author’s personal commentary was unprofessional.
The employee responsible for the editorialized, insulting remarks was reportedly fired.
The company stressed that collecting online data is standard, but the harsh personal commentary was not endorsed.

Leak and PR Impact

Portions of the internal report were leaked, causing significant public relations issues.
HYBE expressed frustration about the leak, noting the confidential nature of the document for limited executive eyes.
The leak was described as a potential case of corporate espionage, especially as it involved sharing sensitive internal assessments with the National Assembly.

Contextual Understanding

Analysts and commentators highlighted that while the commentary was vile, the data collection itself was typical in the industry.
HYBE maintains that negative viral marketing was not orchestrated by the company; the offensive content reflected an individual employee’s perspective, not corporate policy.

Key Point

Distinguishing between company-sanctioned actions and the personal opinions of an employee is critical when evaluating the ethical implications of the report.

Internal Discussion and National Assembly Audit

Audit Transcript Highlights

Min Hyung-bae (Assembly Member): Questions the authenticity and responsibility of the document as a HYBE internal report.
Kim Taeho (Industry Witness): Confirms the document was written internally at HYBE but claims it summarizes public online opinions, not HYBE’s official stance.
Exchange: Confusion arises as the transcript shows HYBE acknowledging ownership of the document while simultaneously distancing the company from its content.

Public and Political Reaction

Observers noted the politician’s difficulty in distinguishing between an internal monitoring report and corporate opinion.
The exchange exemplified challenges in transparency and accountability when internal documents are reviewed by external bodies.

Clarifications

HYBE emphasized that sentiment analysis is a common practice in entertainment and other industries to track trends, opinions, and potential controversies.
The report included both positive and negative feedback, but editorialized summaries were the responsibility of the report’s author.

Implication

The audit made clear the delicate line between internal monitoring for strategic purposes and the risk of exposing defamatory commentary to external parties.

“Zico Too” – Executive Involvement

Email Evidence

January 6, 2022: Chairman Bang Si-hyuk replied to the "Weekly Music Industry Report III," requesting Mr. Zico be added to the sharing list.
Recipients included Kim Jooyoung, then Chief Human Resources Officer at ADOR.

Implications

Shows that top executives had visibility of the internal report.
Demonstrates how the report circulated within HYBE leadership, not just mid-level staff.

Summary of the Report’s Purpose and Misinterpretations

Purpose of the Report

Track trending topics and public sentiment about K-pop online over several years.
Identify opportunities and controversies, helping executives guide decisions for their groups.
Contain both positive and negative commentary, with editorialized summaries from the author.

Industry Context

Reports like this exist in almost every competitive industry, especially entertainment, to monitor trends and fan opinions.

Key Clarifications

Negative personal commentary is the responsibility of the author, not HYBE as a company.
The report was meant for top executives only and was not designed for public consumption.
Some leaked portions contained extreme commentary amplified externally, creating a PR issue.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Defamation Risks

The document contains insulting and potentially false commentary about specific idols, raising defamation concerns.
Legal experts note that internal circulation does not fully protect a company if the content leaks.

Corporate Responsibility

HYBE acknowledged the unprofessional nature of personal commentary by the author and terminated the employee responsible.
HYBE maintains that the company did not produce or endorse the offensive commentary.

Public Perception

Critics argue that reports like these can unintentionally amplify hate comments.
Emphasizes the importance of separating an employee’s opinion from corporate stance in sensitive industries.

Objective Takeaways

Neutral Analysis

HYBE internally monitors public sentiment about idols to manage potential controversies.
The report included subjective commentary from one author, which should not be interpreted as HYBE’s corporate stance.
Leaks of the report created a reputational issue but do not imply that HYBE instructed negative viral marketing.

Industry Norms

Sentiment tracking and analysis is standard in K-pop and other entertainment industries.
Reports are meant for strategic purposes, not public shaming.

Additional Context

Former ADOR CEO Min Heejin is noted to have acted unprofessionally in relation to this document, with behavior potentially qualifying as abuse.
Highlights that abuse and unprofessional conduct can occur regardless of gender or corporate role.

Criticisms and Controversies

Defamatory and Biased Content

Appearance and personal attacks on idols from other companies and HYBE’s own artists.
Criticism includes plastic surgery comments, stage performance, and personal life controversies.

Harsh Tone

The report included language considered insulting and damaging.
Online and offline commentators criticized the framing as biased and sensationalized.

Objectivity Concerns

Presented as internal analysis but contains personal editorializations.
Some argue the report reflects bad-faith corporate monitoring practices.

Effect on Idols and Public Trust

Targets idols with public humiliation, potentially amplifying online hate.
Legal and reputational risks exist due to specific mentions of individuals.

Final Notes

Separation of Responsibility

The author’s commentary does not reflect HYBE’s corporate position.
HYBE’s acknowledgment and termination of the employee demonstrate corporate accountability.

Lessons Learned

Internal monitoring documents must clearly distinguish opinion from company stance.
Leaks can amplify internal commentary beyond intended audiences, highlighting the importance of controlled access.

Objective Summary

Reports are industry-standard sentiment tools, containing both useful analytics and unprofessional editorial commentary.
The controversy is primarily due to the leak, the extreme commentary, and public misinterpretation of HYBE’s corporate intent.

&Team Sexual Harassment

Check sub-topics 🙂

Incident

The Incident:

Attendees at the event alleged they were subjected to invasive and "excessive" body searches by security staff. Key allegations included invasive body checks. Fans reported being taken to a separate area where they were told to "lift their clothes" for inspections.

Underwear Inspections: Several fans claimed their bras and underwear were poked, prodded, and searched for hidden electronic recording devices like Apple Watches.

Sexual Harassment: Many participants described the experience as bordering on sexual harassment or molestation, citing uncomfortable physical contact by the female security staff.

Translated [73]

HYBE's Response and Apology: On July 9, 2023, Weverse Shop, the HYBE subsidiary responsible for the event, issued a formal apology

The Justification: They stated that the searches were implemented because of previous instances where fans had hidden recording devices on their bodies, which violated the event's "no recording" policy.

Apology and reaction

The Apology: They admitted that even security concerns are "not an acceptable excuse for making fans uncomfortable" and sincerely apologized for the embarrassment caused.

Future Changes: HYBE promised to introduce "contact free"

security methods (such as metal detectors) for future events to prevent such incidents from happening again.

HYBE Apologizes Following Allegations Of Sexual Harassment During Underwear Search At Fan Signing Event on 9th July 2023.HYBE has issued a formal apology following allegations of sexual harassment by security guards during an underwear search at an &TEAM fan signing event.

On July 8, HYBE LABELS JAPAN’s boy group &TEAM held an in person fan signing event in Seoul. Afterwards, many fans took to social media and online communities to complain about an allegedly invasive security check at the event, leading the hashtag “#underwearsearch” to trend in South Korea.

According to those who attended the event, &TEAM’s staff touched fans’ breasts and checked their underwear for hidden electronic devices such as Apple Watches, and some fans claimed that they had experienced sexual harassment in the process.

One wrote, “They touched us to check for Apple Watches or electronic devices in case we’d record [the event], but it wasn’t at the level of just skimming; instead, they touched us here and there and poked us, and it was sexual molestation.”

Another recalled, “They said they’d touch my breasts, and then after touching them, they asked, ‘This is a watch, right?’ and took me to a small space where they asked me to lift my clothing. They pressed me so aggressively that I had no choice but to lift my clothing, but then someone else opened the door, walked in, and watched my underwear being searched. I felt so ashamed, and it felt like my human rights had hit the floor.”

Yet another fan wrote, “They pressed hard on my upper breasts and also pressed hard on my lower breasts, and it was nearly to the point of a sexual caress, so I told them, ‘Those are my breasts.'” The fan also complained that even though they did not find anything after taking her to a different room and searching her underwear, they did not apologize and brusquely asked her to leave the room.

As controversy continued to grow over fan accounts of the event, HYBE released an apology for the incident through its e-commerce site Weverse Shop on July 9.

The full statement is as follows:

“Hello, this is Weverse Shop. We would like to apologize to the fans who attended &TEAM’s in person fan signing event on July 8 regarding the security body check that was carried out by female security guards.

Fan signing events are a place where artists and fans talk one-onone,

and if recordings are leaked to the public, it might not be good for the fan and the artist. So to prevent such a situation from arising, we have always strictly limited [fans from] bringing in electronic equipment that makes recording possible. Up until now, many fans have actively cooperated with this practice. However, because there have been several instances of [fans] hiding electronic equipment on their bodies to bring them in, a body check was carried out on July 8 by female security guards to check for this. We apologize to the fans who attended the event with happy hearts for making you uncomfortable.

Even if it was a security issue, we are aware that it is not an acceptable excuse for making fans uncomfortable. We sincerely apologize that this kind of incident happened at the event.

We will make plans for improvements, such as introducing contact free methods for security checks, and we will try to make it possible for fans to participate in fan signing

events with artists in a more comfortable and happy environment. Thank you.”

Public Reaction

Despite the apology, the response was met with significant backlash from fans and netizens. Many felt the apology was "lackluster" and criticized the company for what they perceived as "victim blaming" by focusing on the security necessity rather than the violation of human rights.

Hybe failures to protect idols

There are many times that HYBE (Belift) has failed to protect their idols. This page will give examples for Enhypen.

The provided details a series of distressing safety and privacy incidents involving K-pop idols at international airports, specifically highlighting events from 2025 and 2026. These reflect growing fan frustration over "mobbing" and the alleged failure of security staff to protect artists from excessive physical contact and stalking.

Evidence and details regarding the specific incidents mentioned are as follows.

6. Official Agency Action (2025–2026)

Zero-Tolerance Policy: In January 2026, BELIFT LAB issued a formal statement announcing they would no longer show "leniency" to stalkers.

Airline Cooperation: The agency confirmed they are working with airlines to verify illegal access to artists' flight information.

Official Response:

In response to these specific ENHYPEN incidents, BELIFT LAB issued a "zero-tolerance" policy in January 2026. They announced they would coordinate with airlines to track down individuals who illegally obtain flight information and would no longer show "leniency" to those who cause airport chaos.

An incident involving Ni-ki, a member of the K-pop group ENHYPEN, where a fan made invasive physical contact by grabbing his arm at an airport.

Context: The incident occurred while ENHYPEN was moving through a crowded terminal. The image captures a "middle-aged fan" reaching out to touch Ni-ki's arm, an act widely condemned by the fandom as a violation of personal boundaries.

Security Concerns: Fans have frequently called for better protection for the group, citing multiple "mobbing" incidents where members appeared visibly uncomfortable or were pushed. This specific incident is often used as evidence by supporters (using hashtags like #FairTreatmentForNi_ki) to demand stricter safety protocols from their agency, BELIFT LAB.

Past Precedents: ENHYPEN has faced several high-profile airport safety issues:

° Early Career (2020): Shortly after their formation, the group was reportedly "hurt and scared" after being mobbed during their first airport trip.

[112]

Sasaeng Interference: The agency has had to update fan etiquette guidelines because fans were illegally obtaining flight information and manipulating seat assignments to be near the members.

Controversial incident involving Sunoo of the K-pop group ENHYPEN and staff from their agency, BELIFT LAB.

Summary of the Incident

On July 26, 2024, video footage captured several staff members/bodyguards pulling and pushing Sunoo as the group moved through a heavily crowded airport. The incident sparked a massive outcry from fans (ENGENEs) who argued the level of force used by the staff was unnecessary and distressing for the artist.

Controversial incident involving Sunoo of the K-pop group ENHYPEN and staff from their agency, BELIFT LAB.

Fans pointed out a specific staff member using a firm grip to steer Sunoo through the crowd. Some fans claimed Sunoo appeared physically shaken by the interaction.

Social Media Campaign: Fans trended hashtags such as #BELIFTLAB_DO_BETTER and #RespectSunoo to demand an apology and a change in how the group is handled during public schedules.

Divided Perspectives: While many fans viewed the actions as "mistreatment" or "rough handling," some argued that the staff were acting under high pressure due to extreme mobbing by fans, which created a dangerous environment for the idols.

History of Similar Incidents: This is not an isolated event for ENHYPEN. Fans have previously criticized the agency for:

Staff Interaction: A prior incident in early 2023 where a staff member was accused of "hitting" Sunoo, though some defended it as a playful interaction.

Airport Safety: Repeated instances of "mobbing" where members were pushed, or in some cases, where bodyguards had to use significant force to clear a path through invasive crowds. [113]

Agency Response

As of the latest reports, BELIFT LAB has not issued a specific formal apology or detailed statement regarding the July 2024 "rough handling" allegations. Historically, the agency has responded to airport safety concerns by updating fan etiquette guidelines to discourage fans from gathering in certain airport areas.

An incident during an ENHYPEN "send-off" event where a staff member or security guard abruptly removed a pair of sunglasses from Sunoo's face. This moment sparked significant backlash from fans (ENGENEs).

Incident Details

The Occurrence: During a post-show send-off, a fan gifted Sunoo a pair of sunglasses. After he put them on, a staff member immediately reached in and pulled them off.

Visual Proof: Viral video clips (captured in your screenshot) show the staff member's hand reaching towards Sunoo's face to "rip" or "pull" the glasses away quickly, leaving the idol appearing momentarily confused or startled.

Fan Reactions: Fans criticized the staff's actions as "unprofessional" and "aggressive," arguing that the glasses could have been requested politely rather than being physically pulled from his face.

Security Justification: Some observers suggested the staff might have been following strict safety protocols regarding gifts, possibly concerned about hidden cameras or protecting Sunoo's eyes from unverified eyewear.

Broader Context of Concerns

This event is often cited by fans as part of a larger pattern of alleged mistreatment by BELIFT LAB, including:

Unequal Treatment: Ongoing fan campaigns (such as #RespectSunoo) demanding better solo promotions, more lines in songs, and fairer treatment from the agency compared to other members. [114]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/407780401859272/permalink/481876154449696/

While BELIFT LAB has previously addressed general fan etiquette and taken legal action against malicious posts, they have not issued a specific public apology for this sunglasses incident.

1. Milan Airport Incident

1. Milan Airport and Torch Relay (February 2026)

Sunghoon traveled to Milan to participate as an official torchbearer for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

The Incident: Reports from February 2026 indicate that Sunghoon was "mobbed" upon arrival in Milan, appearing upset after a long-haul flight.

Evidence: During his 20-minute torch relay segment near Milan's Bolivar station on February 6, massive crowds followed alongside him, which Belift Lab described as a "striking scene".

Privacy Breach: A Winter Olympics staff member was allegedly accused of leaking Sunghoon's personal information during the event. [100]

The boy band member became the second K-pop artist to join an Olympic torch relay after BTS member Jin, who participated during the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The area near Bolivar Station in Milan was packed with local fans who gathered to see Sunghoon, his agency Belift Lab said. As he began moving after receiving the flame, a crowd followed along with his steps, creating a striking scene.

Fans draped themselves in South Korean flags and held up banners in Korean reading “Sunghoon, fighting!” Sunghoon carried the torch for about 20 minutes before safely passing the flame on to the next runner.

Sunghoon, who debuted with Enhypen in 2020, previously competed as a figure skater. He won silver medals in the junior division at the national championships and the Asian Open Trophy, served as a national team reserve member and competed on the International Skating Union Junior Grand Prix circuit before retiring in 2019 and later debuting as an idol. Sunghoon also attended an event held at Korea House at Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan on Thursday.

2. Incheon Airport Return

2. Incheon Airport Return from Madrid (2025)

This likely refers to the return of ENHYPEN to South Korea in May 2025 after performing in Spain or Germany.

The Incident: Crowds at Incheon International Airport were so aggressive that fans reportedly broke doors in an attempt to see the group.

Evidence of Poor Security: During one departure/arrival in Incheon around this time, a bodyguard was knocked down by the surging crowd. Footage showed the group's youngest member, Ni-ki, helping the guard stand back up.

Specific to ENHYPEN, the "deep divide" manifests as a cycle where extreme fan behavior (mobbing) triggers defensive security measures, some of which have been criticized as excessive or even invasive.

3. Security-Led "Excessive Force"

. Security-Led "Excessive Force" Controversies

While the specific "flashlight" legal penalty often refers to actor Byeon Woo-seok's security team in 2024, ENHYPEN has had its own unique incidents where staff or security were accused of overstepping:

Physical Intervention (Tokyo/Gimpo): In August 2025, ENHYPEN's security faced allegations of excessive force at a Tokyo airport. A viral video appeared to show a male manager swinging a rolled-up paper toward a crowd of fans to clear a path. Similar "rushing" interventions by staff were seen at Gimpo Airport in early 2025 to block fans who were reportedly waiting for members in airport restrooms.

The Frisking Incident (NAIA, 2023): One of the most famous security controversies occurred at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Fans accused a female security officer of unprofessional conduct and "excessive" physical contact while frisking Ni-ki. The Office for Transportation Security (OTS) launched an official investigation into the guard for giggling and filming the group during a mandatory metal detector check.

The NAIA "Frisking" Controversy (February 2023)

One of the most documented cases of "unprofessional" security conduct occurred at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Government Probe: The Philippines' Office for Transportation Security (OTS) launched an official investigation into the incident.

Visual Evidence: Viral TikTok videos showed a female security officer giggling while performing a pat-down search on Ni-ki and other members, which fans claimed violated no-contact protocols. [101]

Official Statement From Philippines Airport Released Regarding Staffs' Unprofessional Treatment Of ENHYPEN - Koreaboo https://www.koreaboo.com/news/official-statement-philippines-airport-released-regarding-staffs-unprofessional-treatment-enhypen/h

4. Fan-Led "Inadequate Protection" Demands

Conversely, ENGENEs (ENHYPEN's fans) frequently campaign for more security, arguing that current measures are insufficient to stop dangerous "mobs":

The Sunghoon "Sasaeng Chase" (2026): In January 2026, footage showed Sunghoon being chased by stalkers at Incheon Airport with no dedicated security personnel visible. Fans flooded social media with the hashtag #BELIFTLABPROTECTSUNGHOON, arguing that leaving an idol with only one staff member in a public terminal is a failure of protection.

A high-profile incident occurred on January 11, 2026, involving Sunghoon returning to Korea from a personal schedule.

The Evidence: Viral video footage on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) showed three to four fans chasing Sunghoon through Incheon Airport Terminal 1.

Security Failure: The video revealed no dedicated security personnel; Sunghoon was accompanied only by one female staff member. This led to a physical altercation among fans attempting to board the same elevator as him.

Fan Response: Fans launched the hashtag #BELIFTLABPROTECTSUNGHOON to protest the lack of protection. [103]

5. Incheon Airport Return Germany

5. Incheon Airport Return from Madrid / Germany (May 2022 & 2025)

Fans reportedly broke airport doors trying to reach the group upon their return from Madrid. In this instance, fans blamed the agency (BELIFT LAB) for failing to provide a secure perimeter, leading to a situation where even the bodyguards were knocked to the floor by the crowd.

The "bodyguard falling" incident is a recurring piece of evidence cited by fans regarding Incheon's chaotic environment.

The Evidence: Footage from a return from Germany (K-pop Flex) shows fans mobbing the group, causing a bodyguard to fall. In the video, Ni-ki is seen helping the guard stand up while holding his hand to stay together.

Door Damage: Reports from 2025 indicated that fans at Incheon Airport broke terminal doors while trying to glimpse the members.

It only took ONE BODYGUARD to make Korea realize Fans mobbing the airport is actually NOT NORMAL

An good example of how people should behave around ENHYPEN IS seeing how groups who went to Germany arrived PEACEFULLY in Incheon on 22.05.17, made me realize that the issue that happened to one of Enhypen's bodyguard at the airport made an impact as to how fans behaved at the airport that day.

For context, Enhypen went to Germany for K-pop flex and the day of their departure, they already got mobbed at the airport (Incheon) https://youtu.be/oDGiCOKQ3Y8?si=B1Cik3IBK-A6dVfq

Fortunately, this did not happen on their arrival in Germany. International Engenes were pretty well-behaved and were organized properly

[104] by one representative from the fanbase. The boys were extremely interactive to the fans at the airport, waving [105] and high fives [106] were made possible because they were given enough space and did not feel threatened while walking.

The very opposite of what happened on their arrival in Korea. See this https://x.com/jungwonaahhhh/status/1526170700850921472?s=20? The difference is night and day. I don't even know where to start. Just look at this video and see how fans mobbed them in Incheon causing one bodyguard to fall down while Ni-ki (the youngest) holding and helping him stand back up while never letting go of his hand. Sunoo was pushed and pulled around by fans wanting to shove their cameras in his face, you can clearly see how uncomfortable he was. This picture alone speaks for itself https://x.com/kungyazfilms/status/1526142981190713344?s=20

. And this too, the difference again is very clear.

Then this happened https://x.com/viodaze/status/1526142028853256193?s=20

.For context of this video, one fan at the airport who was on the same flight of Enha apparently heard the bodyguard giving WARNINGS to the fans waiting at the airport. He said loudly that whoever comes near the boys will be pushed, then he emphasized that if they keep on coming close, then he will push them even harder. He repeated these lines and made sure his message was clear : I WARNED YOU.

This became a trending topic on the qoo [110], causing a debate whether he was doing his job properly or whether he was overdoing it. Some even pushed the idea of suing the bodyguard for harassment, I mean he was doing his job. Who's harassing the members again? Fortunately, the majority of the comments were sympathetic towards the bodyguard and defending the bodyguard by saying he was just doing his job. Questioning fans why they would go out of their way for a few seconds of having a glimpse of their faves all the while making Idols uncomfortable.

Kai, G-idle, Ab6ix and Dreamcatcher arrived on 2022/05/17 in Korea. And this was how it went [111]. They were given PERSONAL SPACE!!!!! I repeat, there was enough space while all these idols walked their way out of the airport! There might be some fans who went to them but there was still enough space for them to move around. Some idols even talked to their fans while they were on their way out! Watch Enhypen's arrival yesterday and compare it to today's arrival, you can clearly see a difference.

I hope this issue blows up even more in Korea so that K-fans also realize how bad it is for them to mob idols at the airport. That mobbing, pushing and pulling people while shoving their cameras to their faces is definitely not normal, invasive and that this incident would somehow hopefully change a little bit of how fans behave at the airport. They are people not toys, if other people can control themselves and even protect them so can you.

6. Official Agency Action (2025–2026)

Zero-Tolerance Policy: In January 2026, BELIFT LAB issued a formal statement announcing they would no longer show "leniency" to stalkers.

Airline Cooperation: The agency confirmed they are working with airlines to verify illegal access to artists' flight information.

Official Response:

An incident involving Ni-ki, a member of the K-pop group ENHYPEN, where a fan made invasive physical contact by grabbing his arm at an airport.

Past Precedents: ENHYPEN has faced several high-profile airport safety issues:

° Early Career (2020): Shortly after their formation, the group was reportedly "hurt and scared" after being mobbed during their first airport trip.

[112]

Sasaeng Interference: The agency has had to update fan etiquette guidelines because fans were illegally obtaining flight information and manipulating seat assignments to be near the members.

Controversial incident involving Sunoo of the K-pop group ENHYPEN and staff from their agency, BELIFT LAB.

Summary of the Incident

Controversial incident involving Sunoo of the K-pop group ENHYPEN and staff from their agency, BELIFT LAB.

Fans pointed out a specific staff member using a firm grip to steer Sunoo through the crowd. Some fans claimed Sunoo appeared physically shaken by the interaction.

Social Media Campaign: Fans trended hashtags such as #BELIFTLAB_DO_BETTER and #RespectSunoo to demand an apology and a change in how the group is handled during public schedules.

History of Similar Incidents: This is not an isolated event for ENHYPEN. Fans have previously criticized the agency for:

Staff Interaction: A prior incident in early 2023 where a staff member was accused of "hitting" Sunoo, though some defended it as a playful interaction.

Airport Safety: Repeated instances of "mobbing" where members were pushed, or in some cases, where bodyguards had to use significant force to clear a path through invasive crowds. [113]

Agency Response

Incident Details

The Occurrence: During a post-show send-off, a fan gifted Sunoo a pair of sunglasses. After he put them on, a staff member immediately reached in and pulled them off.

Fan Reactions: Fans criticized the staff's actions as "unprofessional" and "aggressive," arguing that the glasses could have been requested politely rather than being physically pulled from his face.

Broader Context of Concerns

This event is often cited by fans as part of a larger pattern of alleged mistreatment by BELIFT LAB, including:

Unequal Treatment: Ongoing fan campaigns (such as #RespectSunoo) demanding better solo promotions, more lines in songs, and fairer treatment from the agency compared to other members. [114]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/407780401859272/permalink/481876154449696/

While BELIFT LAB has previously addressed general fan etiquette and taken legal action against malicious posts, they have not issued a specific public apology for this sunglasses incident.

Saeseng and HYBE'S FAILURE

Recent events involving ENHYPEN, BELIFT LAB, and HYBE have led to significant controversy regarding artist protection, overworking. There are so many instances that it feels like they have the most incidents when it comes to privacy invasion. They haven’t improved over the years either. There are a lot of examples.

Artist Safety?

1. Sasaeng Issues and Artist Safety

Fans have raised concerns about the "illegal acquisition of artists' personal information" and frequent stalking incidents. Evidence of these safety breaches includes:

Flight Information Leaks: Sasaengs have reportedly purchased flight details to sit near members, take unauthorized photos while they sleep, and even register airline memberships using members' personal data.

Invasive Tracking: Individuals have bribed delivery workers or drivers to trespass into artist residences.

Legal Response: BELIFT LAB has announced a zero-tolerance policy, requesting airline cooperation to track information access history and initiating criminal proceedings against stalkers. An article was released about ENHYPEN and their sasaengs titled “[Exclusive] 'Sasaeng "Fans" Have Crossed the Line'... ENHYPEN Suffers from Flight Information Leak” It was discovered that sasaengs had illegally obtained their flight information, signed up to the airline without permission, and assigned seats arbitrarily. Moreover, these sasaengs deliberately blocked seat changes to place the members in their desired seats. • It appears that these extreme sasaengs aimed to seat near the artists during the flight, either to tag along with them or to take unauthorized photos. During their return from their schedule in China, ENHYPEN attempted to change their flight and assign seats for the new return flight, but some members were unable to assign their seats. As a result, ENHYPEN had to verify their identity at the airport to change their seats. The exposure of flight information directly caused harm to the artists. This is actually insane, it was discovered the sasaengs used Enhypens personal information (passport number, full name). ENHYPEN consulted the airline and found that someone had already registered as a member using some of the members’ personal information. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the contact information was registered as a Chinese number and that the seat selection was intentionally blocked. Thus, ENHYPEN had to change seats after verifying their identity at the airport. How did they even get their passport numbers??? Belift already released a statement that they will make sure to protect them, but there hasn’t been anything to show this. As if they had completely forgotten about their safety…[90]

A series of serious security breaches and privacy violations involving ENHYPEN that occurred between 2024 and 2025. These incidents have sparked intense outrage among fans (ENGENEs), who have criticized BELIFT LAB and HYBE for failing to adequately protect the artists' safety.

1. Dormitory Trespassing and Illegal Filming

The most severe incident mentioned in the image refers to a series of breaches at ENHYPEN's dormitory:

The Incident: In mid-2025, reports surfaced that multiple sasaengs (stalker fans) managed to unlawfully enter the group's residence.

The Violation: These individuals were caught attempting to secretly film the members without their consent inside the dorm building. Some reports even alleged they attempted to film members while they were sleeping.

Evidence of Security Failure: It was reported that one stalker was paid by a sasaeng to follow member Sunghoon into his dormitory elevator. Sunghoon noticed the individual and deliberately got off on the wrong floor to ensure his safety. [91]

2. Bribery and Staff Involvement Concerns

The claim that sasaengs were "bribing workers" for access is supported by several documented patterns:

Bribing Personnel: Stalkers have reportedly bribed delivery workers, drivers, or building staff to gain entry into restricted areas of the dormitories.

Information Leaks: Fans have expressed deep concern that staff members or airline employees might be involved in leaking private details, as sasaengs have frequently obtained exact flight numbers and seat information. [92]

3. Agency Response and Legal Action

Following these escalations, BELIFT LAB and HYBE issued formal statements promising strict legal consequences:

Zero-Tolerance Policy: BELIFT LAB announced they would pursue all possible civil and criminal legal actions against those committing housebreaking and stalking crimes, stating there would be no settlement or leniency.

Arrests: In the dormitory case, the suspects were reportedly arrested on the spot by police and underwent investigation for violations of the Stalking Punishment Act.

International Efforts: The agency has also been working with international authorities to track down individuals selling the members' personal data on foreign social media platforms. [93]

Online Safety?

1. Leak of Heeseung's Personal Information

Sasaengs (obsessive stalkers) leaking Heeseung’s address and phone number through a delivery order.

The Incident: On July 4, 2025, reports surfaced that a stalker fan obtained Heeseung's home address and phone number.

Package Theft: This leak reportedly occurred only days after an intrusion into ENHYPEN's dormitory. Beyond just leaking the address, there were allegations that the individual used the information to steal packages intended for Heeseung.

Fan Evidence: Fans have shared screenshots of chatrooms where this information was sold, fueling the argument that the company "failed to protect" him from preventable data breaches.

2. Online Harassment and "Organized Chatrooms"

The second part of the image highlights organized online harassment.

The Chatrooms: BELIFT LAB confirmed the existence of organized chatrooms dedicated to spreading false information and leaking members' personal contact details.

Harassment via Phone: This directly led to members, including Jay and Heeseung, receiving disturbing phone calls and explicit messages.

Evidence from Lives: In October 2025, member Jay had to pause a Weverse live broadcast multiple times because a stalker was calling him repeatedly. He eventually addressed the caller directly, warning them he would put the call on speakerphone if it continued. [94]

3. Legal Consequences and Agency Action

In response to these specific escalations, BELIFT LAB and HYBE have taken the following measures:

Zero Tolerance: The agency announced a strict policy with no settlement or leniency for stalking, dormitory intrusion, or the sale of personal information.

Arrests: Suspects involved in the illegal entry of ENHYPEN's residence were reportedly arrested on the spot and investigated for violating stalking and trespassing laws.

Staff and Airline Monitoring: Following reports of flight information leaks, the agency requested cooperation from airlines to track access logs and verify if internal staff or airline employees were involved in selling the data. [95]

Stalking

1. Flight Information & Seating Incident (September 2024)

On September 5, 2024, reports surfaced detailing how sasaengs compromised the group's travel during their return from China. [96]

The Breach: Sasaengs illegally obtained the members' personal flight information and used it to register with the airline using the members' own personal details.

The Sabotage: The perpetrators used this access to assign the members' seats and deliberately blocked any seat changes, likely to ensure they could sit near the artists or take unauthorized photos.

The Result: ENHYPEN members were unable to change their seats through the normal system and had to verify their identities at the airport to resolve the situation.

Evidence: BELIFT LAB confirmed they were taking "strong legal action" regarding the illegal access and sale of flight information. Investigations into similar leaks have involved airline employees selling data for profit.

2. Sunghoon Stalking & Dorm Elevator Incident

This refers to a widely reported safety breach involving member Sunghoon in early 2025.

The Incident: A man, allegedly hired by a sasaeng fan, followed Sunghoon into his dormitory's elevator and filmed him.

Sunghoon's Reaction: Sunghoon reportedly noticed the man's suspicious behavior, such as pressing the wrong elevator button, and reacted by pressing a different floor himself and holding the door for the man to exit first.

Evidence: BELIFT LAB released a statement on July 1, 2025, confirming a "serious case of stalking" where individuals unlawfully entered an artist's residence and illegally filmed them. The suspects were reported to the police at the scene for housebreaking and stalking. [97][98]

Summary of Actions Taken

BELIFT LAB has stated they are actively gathering evidence from security cameras and fan reports to prosecute these individuals. They have also identified organized online chatrooms dedicated to selling artists' personal information and spreading fabricated content. [99] Lets see if this will actually happen.

Death of a Star

A woman was found dead in a hype executive's hotel room.

CAMILLA STERLING Scooter Braun's right hand man wanted to make Camila Sterling a star. After she died in his hotel room, he wanted the world to forget. On March 30, just after midnight, Camila Sterling, a 24-year old aspiring singer, took the elevator up to Room 2805 of the Setai Hotel's VIP Ocean Suites. She was there to visit David Bolno, Scooter Braun's business partner and the money manager for stars like Drake and Post Malone. Ocean view suites at the luxury Miami Beach hotel, where the pair spent a few hours together, cost $1890 a night.

At about 4:30am, Bolno left the hotel in a Cadillac Escalade. Sterling stayed behind. When a hotel security guard knocked on the door 8 ½ hours later to see why nobody from Room 2805 had checked out, he found Sterling in the fetal position in the bathtub, unresponsive. First responders pronounced her dead.

Photos from the room show baggies of pink powder likely tusi, a drug cocktail containing MDMA and ketamine and a condom wrapper in the garbage. The cause of death was ruled an accidental overdose.

The Daily Mail broke the story two weeks later. The report said Sterling had ordered room service after Bolno, then 46, left. Bolno told the paper Sterling's death was a "terrible tragedy.”

Though Bolno was initially identified as a person of interest in the case, the Miami Beach Police Department told Insider that Bolno had cooperated and was not suspected of wrongdoing.

Bolno told the Daily Mail in April that Sterling had been there "because she was recording music the night before."

"She's a client and she was going to sign a record deal with me. I helped her make music," he said, adding, "There's not much more to it."

(Bolno did not respond to requests for comment from the Insider.)

But Bolno and Sterling's relationship appears to be more intertwined than the executive has indicated. Text messages viewed by Insider showed that Bolno who's married with two children, according to the Daily Mail paid the rent on Sterling's $1.4 million condo in downtown Miami and that Sterling referred to Bolno as her "boyfriend" in texts to an apartment broker.

He also created an LLC under his initials in 2021, seemingly for the sole purpose of releasing Sterling's music. Two of Sterling's friends said it was an open secret among them that she was dating someone powerful in the industry who was behind her rise.

All of Sterling's friends who spoke with Insider asked to remain anonymous, as they didn't want to be identified discussing a powerful industry figure linked to Sterling's death.

In the music industry notoriously dominated by white men there's a long history of older men courting attractive young women and promising them the keys to stardom.

The power imbalances in Sterling and Bolno's relationship were obvious she was considerably younger, an immigrant and woman of color, reliant on him for money and industry connections. Doors seemed to open quickly for her with his backing, setting Sterling on a fast track to fulfill her lifelong dream.

But since Sterling's death, Bolno has worked to distance himself from the tragedy and buff his reputation online. Sterling, meanwhile has largely been erased, her life reduced to a few salacious tabloid headlines.

Laura Camila Lozano Sterling was born an only child in Colombia. Her dad was in the military and her family moved frequently, never staying in one place for long. Sterling was passionate about music and started taking vocal lessons at age 12.

Two years later she and her parents relocated from Bogotá to Miami. A college friend described them as "regular people that just wanted to go to the US and get a better education and better work opportunities."

Sterling idolized American teen pop stars, especially Selena Gomez. "I identified a lot with her struggles from depression, from not believing in herself," Sterling said in an interview last November with a Puerto Rican podcast.

After Sterling's parents separated her mother moved back to Colombia and Sterling stayed in Miami with her dad. One longtime friend, who for years gave Sterling monthly eyelash extensions, remembers her father being highly protective of his only daughter, constantly calling to check in on Sterling during appointments.

"She was a very loved child," she said. "She was tranquilo, a completely relaxed person all the time."

But deep down, Sterling was struggling. In a 2022 interview, she acknowledged that her parents' separation had been hard on her and that moving to Miami was a culture shock. She didn't speak the language and struggled with self-confidence.

Sterling spent her teenage years in Sunny Isles Beach, a beachfront city crowded with high rise condos about 40 minutes from downtown Miami. While much of its population is Hispanic, Sunny Isles has become known as Little Moscow due to the influx of Russian money behind its development boom. (Six of Florida's seven Trump-branded residential buildings are in Sunny Isles.) Gaudy excess was the prevailing aesthetic in the barrier island community.

Sterling grew up in a vast condo complex called the Intracoastal Yacht Club. Despite its swanky name and the Greco-Roman stone statues flanking the pool, residents complained that the units were run down and infested with roaches.

While Sterling had a middle-class upbringing, one high school acquaintance said her dad worked as an Uber driver. She was always adjacent to the "rich kids of Instagram" scene, a person who was friends with her when they were teenagers said. A high school friend said Sterling was friends with the "pretty girls" and "had a bunch of guys running behind her."

From a young age, she tried hard to project a life of luxury. A Facebook photo from her senior year of high school showed Sterling posing outside a Givenchy store with a quilted Chanel bag dangling from one shoulder.

Conspicuous consumption after all is part of Miami's DNA.

In high school, Sterling tried to build a modeling career. When she was 17 she messaged a photographer on Instagram and they met up and took photos in the park by his mom's house. He remembers the soft, high pitched tenor of her voice. "She always had this very innocent vibe," he said. "She was very feminine and very delicate."

At 18 Sterling married her high school classmate Enmanuel Hernández Rodriguez, who lived in the building across the street and was from Cuba. "Our relationship was more like a family love," Rodriguez wrote in a Facebook message. Court records show he disavowed any interest in Sterling's estate after she died, and none of the friends Insider spoke with knew she was married.

After graduating Sterling moved with a high school friend to an apartment downtown. They threw themselves into the Miami nightlife scene, partying into the morning at Club Space, an EDM spot known for its after-hours raves. She briefly studied journalism at Miami Dade College but decided to switch paths to take a serious shot at music.

"If I don't do it now, it's never going to happen," she told a Puerto Rican news outlet in 2022. She started taking music classes again, including piano, and reading books on self-improvement.

Just as she was beginning to pursue music seriously, she met someone who changed everything for her, Sterling said i n interviews. After feeling lost and depressed for a long time, she suddenly felt as if she had called out to the universe and God had answered.

"I can't say their name," she said in a 2022 interview with the Puerto Rican podcast "Desde El Bunker," but this person "gave me the opportunity to be in music and was the first person who believed in me no matter what." She said the person didn't speak Spanish so she'd have to translate the interview for them later.

"I thank this person for everything, and apart from my parents and myself and God, this is the most important person in my life," she said.

In 2021 Sterling tweeted that "2022 is my year" and that the "time has come to start fulfilling dreams." And she was right. Sterling's music career took off, seemingly out of nowhere.

A Miami based producer who worked with Sterling before she debuted "Hookah," a clubby reggaeton dance track with TikTok friendly choreography, in July 2022, said Sterling started hanging with a new Los Angeles crowd and flying back and forth a lot, often on private planes.

The producer said Sterling was cagey about who she was working with but couldn't resist name dropping celebrities like Drake, Scooter Braun, and Lil Pump, implying they had plans to collaborate. "We are not familiar with nor did we have plans to work with Camila Sterling," a rep for Lil Pump told Insider.

A high school friend said there were rumors swirling about Sterling being involved with "bad men and drugs" before her death . "When she started hanging out with the Miami music industry," everything became "completely different," the college friend said, adding that Sterling drifted away from a lot of old friends in the last year of her life.

The sheer amount of money passing through that world, the friend said, could make people "lose themselves."

In October 2022, Sterling released her second single, "Moët." Both "Moët" and "Hookah" were copyrighted by DTB Records, an LLC bearing Bolno's initials that he incorporated in Delaware in November 2021.

Sterling was by no means an instant sensation — her biggest song has fewer than 700,000 listens on Spotify, whereas Taylor Swift and Drake have billions of listens per song — but it was a solid start.

She took press trips to Puerto Rico and shot music videos in New York City and Medellín, Colombia. They were not small budget affairs.

In the video for "Moët," Sterling and her girl squad cruise on a school bus through the streets of Medellí n and throw an underground dance party in a pink mansion where they pop Champagne and grind beneath pulsing disco lights.

Apart from Sterling's two songs, DTB Records doesn't appear to have produced anything else. It also doesn't appear to have a website or a social media presence.

When Bolno formed DTB, he was working as the chief operating officer of the American arm of the entertainment conglomerate Hype and as a business manager for private entertainment clients via NKSFB, a business management firm that provides financial and concierge services to wealthy artists and athletes.

Bolno joined NKSFB in 2005, a year after graduating from Temple Law School. He helped grow its practice, advising clients like the snowboarder Shaun White. Bolno pivoted to the music industry before being made partner in 2011.

While Bolno's longtime business partner Scooter Braun has become as much of a star as the celebrities he manages, you won't find paparazzi pictures of Bolno schmoozing at charity galas or sunning himself on the music mogul David Ge ffen's yacht.

Bolno, like many business managers, has kept a low public profile — at least until recently. But his influenc e extends deep into his clients' lives, and he's listed on dozens of LLCs that hold his clients' real estate, touring businesses, and other ventures.

Over the years he's worked with everyone from Will.i.am to Justin Bieber. In line notes for his 2011 album "Take Care," Drake wrote: "To my business manager David Bolno, thank you for pulling my life together for me and putting me in a position where I can now begin to build my empire."

Bolno's specialty is accounting, financial planning, and structuring business entities. When he told the Daily Mail that h e and Sterling had been working on music, industry peers were skeptical, pointing out that he hadn't been on the creative side before.

The top business managers take 5% of gross income and "only take on superstar clientele — and now suddenly he was going to be the manager of a new developing act?" one industry bigwig said. "He's never developed a n artist in his life. He doesn't have a label as a music manager. He's an accountant." Bolno's IMDb profile lists two production credits: one for a 2010 documentary about a basketball player and one for a 2014 Mariah Carey concert film.

Braun considers Bolno a trusted advisor and friend, as well as one of his closest professional associates, multiple people said. This August, Braun made headlines after several major clients, including Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato, cut ties with him. Bolno and Braun have been business partners on several ventures over the past 17 years. Bolno served as the chief operating officer of Ithaca Holdings, Braun's holding company, where he was hands-on in negotiating the acquisition of Swift's masters, a person with direct knowledge of the deal said.

In 2021, Ithaca was acquired by the Korean entertainment behemoth Hybe. As part of the deal, Braun was named CEO of its American arm; Bolno again assumed the role of chief operating officer.

"I think he has always been Scooter's executioner. He's the bad guy when he needs to be, and I think that allows Scooter to sort of play the good guy," a manager who's done business with the pair said. "Bolno doesn't really do anything that Scooter hasn't already sanctioned or approved from a business point of view."

In 2021 a man named Peter Comisar sued Braun and Bolno, alleging fraud and breach of contract regarding a private equity fund the three men had been developing together. In his complaint, Comisar argued that Braun abruptly abandoned his commitments to the fund and that Bolno, "completely unrepentant," levied threats to destroy Comisar's reputation and livelihood on Braun's behalf.

(Braun filed a legal complaint against Comisar a few hours earlier on the same day saying Comisar had failed to meet his fundraising obligations. The dispute went to private arbitration.)

Bolno's close relationship with Braun has been complicated for some artists. Bieber left Bolno and NKSFB last fall, a person close to the Bieber camp said. Before they stopped working together, Bolno was involved in brokering the $200 million sale of Bieber's catalog to Hipgnosis that closed in January.

"David Bolno is conflicted in a lot of ways," the person close to Bieber's camp said. "Are you the business manager for Scooter, for Hybe, or are you the business manager for talent? I don't think it's ever a good idea for any artist when you don't have separate representation.

"It's unclear how Bolno and Sterling were introduced, but it makes perfect sense they gravitated toward each other. It was a quintessential Miami fairy tale: He was rich and powerful, with the biggest names in music in his Rolodex. She was young, beautiful, and a five-hour flight from Bolno's $11 million plus Brentwood mansion where he lived with his wife and kids.

Perhaps at some point he mentioned he'd once been the business manager for her idol Selena Gomez; perhaps he never needed to.

Sterling was a secretive person who kept her circle small, but friends close to her knew that around the time her music career took off she started dating "someone who was important," as one friend she met through the nightlife scene put it.

The friend was particularly impressed when David Grutman, the Miami nightlife impresario behind the clubs LIV and Story, posted about Sterling's single before it even came out. (Grutman also owns a restaurant with Pharrell, Bolno's client, and Grutman and Bolno are coinvestors in a fintech company called XTM.)

The friend said Sterling never mentioned her boyfriend by name. After the Daily Mail broke the story of her death in Bolno's suite, the friend said he had n o doubt that Bolno was the boyfriend whose identity she'd worked so hard to protect.

On TikTok and Instagram, Sterling seemed to be living the good life. In spring 2022, she moved into a $1.4 million apartment with an elevator in the luxe Paramount Miami Worldcenter, a soaring condo building in Miami's rapidly developing downtown.

She posted TikTok's of herself dancing to "Hookah" on the balcony overlooking the water and videos of herself doing a skincare routine on her puppy, a gray French bulldog named Blue.

In April 2022, Sterling exchanged messages with the broker about securing a lease for the condo. The broker said she didn't ask too many questions, adding that the building was popular with clients who valued discretion — including "rappers, celebrities," and "side pieces" for rich married men.

In the texts and voice notes, Sterling repeatedly pointed to her boyfriend as proof she could afford the $12,000 monthly rent. Asked to write down her record label, Sterling replied in a voice note:

"I'm not signed to a record label yet. I'm in dependent. My partner is my boyfriend, literally."

She seemed uncertain about what to put down as her income. She asked whether it was OK to simply say she made $10,000 a month, adding that she moved "quite a lot of money" through the account she'd use to pay rent.

She encouraged the broker to have the people coordinating the rental contact her boyfriend to prove she had the funds.

"I need you to tell them to call my boyfriend back at the time I tell you. At the moment he's really busy and can't talk, " she said in a voice note.

"Obviously I'm interested in them speaking with my boyfriend because he's, you know, really big. So can you help me with that, please?"

In a written message, Sterling shared Bolno's information.

"He's called David and this is his email," she said, listing Boln o's cell number and NKSFB work email. "He said they already called him but he couldn't answer."

Emails also show that Bolno was listed as a reference on Sterling's rental application. The broker involved with the rental confirmed that Sterling eventually paid a year's worth of rent, more than $140,000, up front.

"All she said to me was that her boyfriend was going to pay for it and that he's a producer," the broker said.

None of Sterling's collaborators who Insider spoke with had heard of DTB Records, but a producer who worked with St erling in the last year of her life said they recorded at high end studios like Miami's A2F Studios, where Drake, Future, Ozuna, and ASAP Rocky have made music.

Sterling also posted photos of herself at Bay Eight Recording Studios in North Miami, which is frequented by prominent artists in Ithaca 's orbit like Migos and Usher.

A songwriter who worked with Sterling remembered thinking it was unusual for a new, unsigned artist to be getting such top-dollar treatment; there were always freshly baked chocolate chip cookies waiting for Sterling and her team at A2F that they'd flock to the moment they arrived, like children at snack time.

"I could have seen her blowing up," said a person involved with Bay Eight. "I was surprised because I'd never heard of her, but she seemed really professional and to have real backing."

Several people who worked with Sterling in the last year of her life said she was managed by Nordhia Centeno, a manager and publicist who represents up-and coming Latin artists. But there were also bigger industry figures who seemed to have a hand in her career.

In an Instagram caption listing credits for the "Hookah" music video, its director, Laura Castellanos Torres, identified Edgar Andino as management for the project; Andino, a prominent figure in the Latin music world who made a name for himself as the longtime manager of the Puerto Rican sensation Ozuna, is also listed as a producer in the song's credits on YouTube and Spotify.

But none of the people who worked with Sterling remembered her ever mentioning Andino.

In June 2022, Andino posted a photo of himself and Bolno at the private club Zero Bond with the caption "surround yourself with people that inspire you." On June 29, 2023, three months after Sterling's death, Ozuna and Andino signed to SB Projects, Scooter Bra un's management company.

Andino did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

In the months before Sterling's death, something seemed to have shifted in her relationship with her mysterious producer boyfriend. One friend heard that though they hadn't broken up, they "were not on good terms."

Sterling began talking to her broker about moving into a cheaper unit in the same complex, text messages show. She told the broker that her boyfriend had given her the entire year's rent up front, and this way she could save money by pocketing the difference.

Bank records show that a week before her death she had more than $230,000 in a checking account.

Sterling insisted on meeting in person to talk about the potential move, the broker said, adding that she found that surprising given that it could have simply been discussed on the phone.

Sitting together in the vast, sparsely furnished apartment, she got the impression that Sterling wasn't doing well. She wondered if the young woman might be on something and said she seemed desperate for companionship.

"I felt she was very lonely," the broker said.

Near the end of her life, Sterling had a falling out with her high school best friend and former roommate, Gabby, a friend who knew Sterling through nightlife said. The friend added that the last time he and Sterling hung out was at Club Space, their regular haunt.

That night, he said, Sterling broke down in tears, saying she felt intense pressure to make it as a singer and was worried she was going to blow her shot.

"T he pressure was on her because she had this chance, and she got there faster than others," he said. "She felt that she didn't deserve it, that there was people out there with more talent. She was questioning herself," the friend said.

"My advice to her was like: You have it, enjoy it," he said, telling her, "It's yours — take it."

It's not clear how often Sterling and Bolno met up. He later told the police that he was in Miami to meet with a client the week she died, though he didn't specify who.

Earlier that week his biggest client, Drake, was spotted by a fan at the Setai, where two hotel staffers said he's a regular.

"His whole team likes to come here and hang out because there's not a lot of paparazzi," said one bartender at the hotel's Ocean Grill, a beachside restaurant with crystal chandeliers hanging from dark wood beams.

The night before she died, Sterling texted her dad to tell him she'd taken her epilepsy medicine.

At 11 p.m., a car picked her up from the Paramount Miami Worldcenter, and she arrived at the Setai just after midnight.

CCTV footage show s Bolno leaving the room at about 4: 30 that morning. A note from the hotel's concierge addressed to Bolno said a Cadillac Escalade had been ordered to pick him up at 4: 45 a.m. and take him to the airport.

Representatives for the Setai said they could not comment on the case.

Police records say a woman with "slow speech" called the Setai's front desk to order breakfast to Room 2805 at 8: 18 a. m.

After knocking several times, a staff member entered the room but left upon seeing nobody in "entry sight."

When the hotel called Bolno a few hours later to ask why nobody had checked out, he said a woman was still in the room, the records say.

Members of the hotel's security staff went to conduct a welfare check.

When they entered, they found Sterling unresponsive in the fetal position in the bathtub, performed CPR, and called 911. The fire department pronounced her dead at 1: 22 p.m.

The hotel room was littered with Sterling's clothes: a Juicy Couture tracksuit, Yeezy sneakers, a Cartier Juste un Clou bracelet, and a $3,000 Balenciaga purse.

One open packet of Trojan Fire and Ice condoms was in the garbage, and baggies of the pink drug were in her purse and on the table.

A handwritten note left on the floor listed two low cost telecom providers: Unreal Mobile and Red Pocket Mobile.

Below were bullet points labeled "brand and branding," "creators on top," and "not owned IP" — perhaps plans for some sort of endorsement deal.

"I had vacated the room in the earlier part of the morning so I wasn't there when they found her," Bolno told the Daily Mail, adding: "I really liked her. I was helping her make music."

Asked why she was staying with him in the first place, h e said, "I let her stay there, there's not much more to it."

Bolno gave a recorded statement to the police on April 4 in Miami, a report from the Miami Beach Police Department said. He was represented by Bruce Lehr, a criminal defense lawyer in Miami with experience defending people accused of drug trafficking, Medicare fraud, and Ponzi schemes.

Bolno told the police that the reason he and Sterling met so late was that his client meeting had run long. He said he'd worked with Sterling on music for two years.

The night of her death, Bolno said, Sterling was using tusi in his presence; he said that he'd seen her use it before, but only socially, and that she didn't use alcohol or narcotics.

By the time he left, she appeared to be sober. He said he texted her when he got to the airport but didn't hear back.

The lead detective on the case, Fabio Cabrera, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

On a call on September 14, a department spokesman, Ernesto Rodriguez, told Insider that the investigation was closed and that Bolno had been "ruled out as a subject" and "fully cooperated" with the police.

The police reports did not detail who supplied the drugs to Sterling.

It took more than two weeks for Sterling's name to come out in the press.

The Daily Mail broke the story on April 13; w hile the article initially said Bolno was a person of interest, archived versions show it was altered that day to say he was n't.

Since Sterling's death, Bolno has appeared to try to distance himself from the tragedy.

More than 60 stories from blogs and websites like Eighty MPH Mom and The European Business Review, which charge for publishing sponsored content that can improve a person's SEO, appear in Google search results for Bolno's name.

These stories hold Bolno up as a model businessman, dispense bland advice, and talk up his contributions to charity, including a hefty donation to set up a scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania's medical school, of which his wife, a pediatric ophthalmologist, is an alum.

"David Bolno is a contemporary superhero who doesn't need an alter ego in a world full of capes and masks," says one such article in The Jerusalem Post, which discloses that it was written "in cooperation" with Bolno.

It adds that "David Bolno is ultimately more than simply a name; it is a symbol of transformation and optimism."

But within the upper echelons of the music world, "everyone knows" about what happened in Bolno's hotel room that night, an industry insider said.

Bolno's closeness with Braun, who's battling his own public relations firestorm, has only added fuel to the gossip and speculation.

One person who was doing a business deal with Braun and Bolno last spring said the pair seemed "distracted" and ghosted him after Sterling's death.

Mickey Segal, the managing partner of NKSFB, told Insider in September that Bolno was still working for the firm.

Sterling's family has not spoken publicly, and her manager, Nordhia Centeno, did not respond to multiple requests for an interview.

However, in September, a message from Centeno's email address sent on behalf of Sterling's mother asked Insider to stop reporting on Sterling's death.

"My name is Nubia Esperanza Sterling Artunduaga. My daughter was C amila Sterling," said the note, which was provided in both English and Spanish.

The pain of losing Sterling was "made s o much worse when the tabloid media began publishing horrible stories about my daughter's death," it went on, adding that "these horrible stories served no purpose other than to assassinate the good character of my daughter by highlighting the tragic circumstances of her death."

It said Sterling always sent money home to family in Colombia that her mother would use to buy supplies for children in her village.

"Camila was like an angel to us," it said.

Others close to Sterling say they're frustrated by the lack of closure and what they feel is a culture of silence surrounding her death.

"There's people who will probably crank me for life for talking about this," one person who worked with St erling said when Insider knocked on her door requesting an interview.

Sterling's father opted to have her cremated two days after her death, probate case records say.

Some friends found out about her death because of the Daily Mail report. "We didn't have a funeral or anything," the friend who knew her through nightlife said, adding that he was frustrated with the tabloids' emphasis on Sterling's drug use.

Rocio Cruz Maldonado, a publicist in Puerto Rico who accompanied Sterling on two press tours there, said she was devastated by the news. She said she tried to ask Centeno and a US based publicist, Marcie Stefan, for more information, but they refused to give her any details.

The producer who worked with Sterling before "Hookah" said the silence after her death was "very odd."

Few of Sterlin g's collaborators — producers, stylists, dancers, and others, many of whom eagerly promoted her songs when they came out — seem to have posted about her death.

"I would go online every single day trying to put in the name, and nothing will come up," her college friend said.

"There are things beyond our knowledge and understanding when there's power and money involved."

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EXCLUSIVE: Death scene photos of David Bolno's Setai hotel room in Miami Beach where

aspiring singer Camila Sterling overdosed show rumpled bed, condoms and baggies of pi

nk cocaine

Evidence photos obtained by DailyMail.com show the room at Miami's Setai Hotel where Camila St

erling was found dead of an overdose on March 30

Images show two plastic bags of pink cocaine inside the plush onebed

suite, along with an assortment of pills, condoms, designer clothes and jewelry

Sterling, 24, died of an accidental overdose after spending hours with David Bolno, 46, a partner at

music management giant NKSFB

Strewn with drugs, soiled bedding and discarded condom wrappers, this is the swish Miami Beach hotel suite where a

wannabe singer suffered a fatal overdose after spending hours with a married music executive.

Camila Sterling, 24, was found curled up dead in a bathtub on March 30 along with multiple baggies of a mystery pow

der later identified as trendy pink cocaine.

She had spent the evening at the five-star Setai Hotel with David Bolno, a 46-yearold

partner at music management giant NKSFB, according to a medical examiner's report –

which states that 'no other person(s) are observed going to the room.'

Bolno was cleared of any involvement, however, after hotel cameras captured him leaving at 4:30am to catch a flight h

ome to his wife and two kids in Los Angeles – hours before Sterling called room service to order breakfast.

Camila Sterling, 24, died from an accidental overdose at a hotel room at The Setai in Miami Beach on March 30, after s

pending hours with married music executive David Bolno.

The hotel bed is rumpled, the pillows have been tossed around and the sheets are stained with a reddish-pink fluid

According to the medical examiner, Sterling died of an accidental overdose caused by a deadly cocktail of ketamine,

MDMA, and the designer drug 'Tusi', aka pink cocaine, which was found in the room.

A box of Trojan condoms was found in the room by police, with one packet opened.

The room was booked in married music executive David Bolno's name but he was not there when she died and was cl

eared of any involvement.

Bolno told DailyMail.com the incident was a 'terrible tragedy'.

David Bolno with his wife Stacy Pineles. Police say he is not a person of interest in the case.

The young Colombianborn

singer's demise was ruled an accident caused by a deadly cocktail of ketamine, MDMA and the designer drug 'Tu

si', known as pink cocaine because of its garish color.

Previously unseen crime scene photos, obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, show two plastic bags of the drug found

inside the plush one-bed 28th floor suite, along with an assortment of pills, alcohol, designer clothes and jewelry.

One baggie was found tucked inside the aspiring performer's $2,800 Balenciaga handbag while a second was left on a

coffee table beside a straw and remnants of powder cut into a line.

Officers from the Miami Beach Police Department also took photos of an opened packet of three Trojan Fire & Ice con

doms retrieved from a kitchen trash can.

Two of the condom wrappers were untouched but a corner was torn from a third.

The corresponding fragment of packaging can be seen on the living room rug in another of our exclusive photos.

Two more unopened condoms were found inside Sterling's bag along with two unidentified white pills, cash, credit car

ds and her ID.

Bolno refused to comment on the harrowing scenes depicted in the photos.

He told DailyMail.com in the wake of Sterling's death that she was an aspiring singer whom he was looking to sign and

there was nothing untoward about their interaction.

Sterling was found curled up dead in a bathtub along with multiple baggies of the pink drug. Investigators took her bo

dy out of the tub and placed it on the floor, covered with a sheet.

Authorities discovered open bottles of mineral water and a used baggy of the pink cocaine, alongside a straw, littered

across the living room coffee table – and other parts of the hotel room.

Evidence photos show the contents of Sterling's $2,800 Balenciaga bag included makeup, a $20 bill and condoms.

A bag of the powdery substance was also found tucked inside Sterling's purse.

An open condom packet was also found in the hotel room's wastebasket along with cans of Coca Cola.

Authorities also found two unidentified white tablets in addition to the pink drug.

Pink cocaine

'I really liked her. I was helping her make music ... It was a terrible tragedy,' said Bolno, who lives on an $11.4million LA

estate with his wife Stacy, 45.

'I had vacated the room in the earlier part of the morning, so I wasn't there when they found her.'

Asked why a beautiful woman, 22 years his junior, would have been in his room at such odd hours of the night, Bolno in

sisted: 'I let her stay there, there's not much more to it'.

Located in a soaring, waterfront high-rise, the music mogul's one-bed suite typically rents for around $1,500 a night.

A note left by hotel staff indicates Bolno was also assigned a fancy Cadillac Escalade to drive him to the airport at 4:45

am on the day Sterling was found.

Our exclusive photos show the suite's fridge stocked with alcohol and champagne but the pair seemed to have stuck t

o cola and mineral water.

Cushions are strewn around the living area and several tissues litter the floor. The cloakroom basin has a sprinkling of t

ell-tale pink powder.

Sterling's white handbag and Louis Vuitton wallet were photographed on top of a bedroom dresser along with her velo

ur Juicy Couture tracksuit.

Officers took further snaps of her Cartier Juste un Clous bracelet, which starts at around $3,300, and soughtafter

Yeezy sneakers.

exclusive photos show the suite's fridge was stocked with alcohol and champagne but the pair seemed to have stuck t

o cola and mineral water.

What appear to be bloody stains were found on the bedsheets.

What appear to be bloody stains were found on tissues that were also recovered at the scene.

The bed is unmade, the pillows have been tossed around and the sheets are stained with a reddish-pink fluid.

A bloodied, scrunchedup

tissue sits among the sheets and there are more bloodied and pinkish tissues nestling inside a garbage can in the e

n-suite bathroom where Sterling was found dead.

Several photos of her lifeless, naked body were included in the cache of images, obtained via a Freedom of Informatio

n request, however DailyMail.com has decided not to publish them.

A medical examiner's report previously revealed by DailyMail.com notes that Sterling – described as a nondrinker

and non-smoker by her family –

was found with a towel wrapped around her hair as if she had just stepped out of the shower.

There were no signs of trauma on her body but she did have a history of epilepsy and seizures, according to the notes,

which list the cause of death as 'acute combined toxic effects of multiple drugs.'

The medical examiner's report states that Sterling arrived at the Setai 'to visit a male just after midnight'.

'The male checked out of the hotel at approximately 4 am,' the report explains. 'No other person(s) are observed going

to the room.'

It goes on: 'The unknown male left at approximately 4:30 am for his return flight. His exit was confirmed on hotel secur

ity cameras.

'At approximately 12pm, checkout was scheduled but when hotel staff discovered that no checkout was made, a welfa

re check was conducted.

According to the medical examiner's report, a welfare check was conducted after the occupant failed to check out by

noon.

Sterling's Green Card – under the name Laura Lozano –

was also found in the room. Her full name was Laura Camila Lozano Sterling.

A note left by hotel staff indicates Bolno was also assigned a fancy Cadillac Escalade to drive him to the airport at 4:45

am on the day Sterling was found.

Sterling's velour Juicy Couture tracksuit was photographed on top of a bedroom dresser along with her other belongin

gs.

Officers took further snaps of her Cartier Juste un Clous bracelet, which start at around $3,300.

They also recovered sought-after Yeezy sneakers.

'Upon entry into the room, the decedent was found in a fetal position inside the tub. There was no water in tub and wa

ter was not running.

'The decedent had a towel wrapped around her hair as if she had just completed her shower. Hotel staff initiated cardi

opulmonary resuscitation.

'In the hotel room, there were an unknown pink powdery substance located on the coffee table along with a clear bagg

ie with the same substance. A cut drinking straw was next to the substance.

'Pink residue was also noted in the second bathroom sink along with a pillow on the floor. Also, a search of the decede

nt's purse by law enforcement revealed another clear baggie with the same substance.'

The report says further investigation confirmed that a female called room service at 8am 'for only one person'. The staf

f arrived to find a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door.

'After several knocks with no answer, entry was made into the room and no one was seen in entry sight. As a result, th

e room service was left in the room and hotel staff exited not knowing that she was in the tub when they announced t

hemselves.'

The report says Sterling moved from Bogota to Florida 11 years ago, was legally married and was employed as a music

ian and producer in the music industry.

Camila Sterling was born in the Colombian capital Bogota, in 1998 and spent most of her childhood in the South Amer

ican country before moving to Florida at age 14 with her family.

Camila Sterling first moved to Florida from Colombia aged 14.

The aspiring singer has released two songs onto Spotify entitled Moët and Hookah.

The Setai is among Miami's most exclusive hotels. Rooms run up to $2,600 a night.

An autopsy revealed two white pills in her stomach along with evidence of pulmonary and brain congestion.

She tested positive for drugs including methamphetamine, amphetamine, MDMA, Ketamine, Oxycodone and Alprazol

am, a sedative.

Several of these drugs can cause death by stroke, seizure or cardiac arrest, the report notes.

Pink cocaine, a labmade,

designer drug originated in Colombia and gets its name from the strawberry food dye added to it along with ca

ffeine and ketamine.

It typically does not contain cocaine and more closely resembles ecstasy in its composition and the effect it has on use

rs, making it popular with clubbers.

Bolno works in NKSFB's Westwood office, focusing on business management.

In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter in 2018, he said he'd had the opportunity to work with some of the largest

tours that year, adding that he finds his job 'fulfilling' when his clients have 'breakout success.'

To unwind, the Hollywood business manager said he likes 'to spend as much time as I can with my family.'

Sterling released her first single Hookah on her 23rd birthday last year. Her tracks have garnered over 1.5million plays

on Spotify.

Part 1

Check sub-topics 🙂

Incident Overview

A woman was found dead in a hype executive's hotel room.

Photos from the room show baggies of pink powder likely tusi, a drug cocktail containing MDMA and ketamine and a condom wrapper in the garbage. The cause of death was ruled an accidental overdose.

The Daily Mail broke the story two weeks later. The report said Sterling had ordered room service after Bolno, then 46, left. Bolno told the paper Sterling's death was a "terrible tragedy.”

Though Bolno was initially identified as a person of interest in the case, the Miami Beach Police Department told Insider that Bolno had cooperated and was not suspected of wrongdoing.

Bolno told the Daily Mail in April that Sterling had been there "because she was recording music the night before."
"She's a client and she was going to sign a record deal with me. I helped her make music," he said, adding, "There's not much more to it."
(Bolno did not respond to requests for comment from the Insider.)

Relationship Details and Power Dynamics

All of Sterling's friends who spoke with Insider asked to remain anonymous, as they didn't want to be identified discussing a powerful industry figure linked to Sterling's death.

In the music industry notoriously dominated by white men there's a long history of older men courting attractive young women and promising them the keys to stardom.

Early Life and Background

After Sterling's parents separated her mother moved back to Colombia and Sterling stayed in Miami with her dad. One longtime friend remembers her father being highly protective of his only daughter.

"She was a very loved child," she said. "She was tranquilo, a completely relaxed person all the time."

Teen Years and Lifestyle

Sterling grew up in a vast condo complex called the Intracoastal Yacht Club. Despite its swanky name, residents complained that the units were run down and infested with roaches.

While Sterling had a middle-class upbringing, one acquaintance said her dad worked as an Uber driver. She was always adjacent to the "rich kids of Instagram" scene.

From a young age, she tried hard to project a life of luxury. A Facebook photo showed Sterling posing outside a Givenchy store with a Chanel bag.

Conspicuous consumption after all is part of Miami's DNA.

Career Beginnings and Rise

"If I don't do it now, it's never going to happen," she told a Puerto Rican news outlet in 2022. She started taking music classes again, including piano, and reading books on self-improvement.

Just as she was beginning to pursue music seriously, she met someone who changed everything for her, Sterling said in interviews. After feeling lost and depressed for a long time, she suddenly felt as if she had called out to the universe and God had answered.

"I thank this person for everything, and apart from my parents and myself and God, this is the most important person in my life," she said.

In 2021 Sterling tweeted that "2022 is my year" and that the "time has come to start fulfilling dreams." And she was right. Sterling's music career took off, seemingly out of nowhere.

A high school friend said there were rumors swirling about Sterling being involved with "bad men and drugs" before her death. "When she started hanging out with the Miami music industry," everything became "completely different," the college friend said, adding that Sterling drifted away from a lot of old friends in the last year of her life.

The sheer amount of money passing through that world, the friend said, could make people "lose themselves."

Music Career and Industry Connections

She took press trips to Puerto Rico and shot music videos in New York City and Medellín, Colombia. They were not small budget affairs.

In the video for "Moët," Sterling and her girl squad cruise on a school bus through the streets of Medellín and throw an underground dance party in a pink mansion where they pop Champagne and grind beneath pulsing disco lights.

Apart from Sterling's two songs, DTB Records doesn't appear to have produced anything else. It also doesn't appear to have a website or a social media presence.

Bolno’s Industry Role and Influence

Bolno, like many business managers, has kept a low public profile — at least until recently. But his influence extends deep into his clients' lives, and he's listed on dozens of LLCs that hold his clients' real estate, touring businesses, and other ventures.

Bolno's specialty is accounting, financial planning, and structuring business entities. When he told the Daily Mail that he and Sterling had been working on music, industry peers were skeptical, pointing out that he hadn't been on the creative side before.

The top business managers take 5% of gross income and "only take on superstar clientele — and now suddenly he was going to be the manager of a new developing act?" one industry bigwig said. "He's never developed an artist in his life. He doesn't have a label as a music manager. He's an accountant." Bolno's IMDb profile lists two production credits.

Braun considers Bolno a trusted advisor and friend. Bolno served as the chief operating officer of Ithaca Holdings, Braun's holding company, and was involved in major business deals including the acquisition of Swift's masters.

In 2021, Ithaca was acquired by Hybe, with Braun becoming CEO of its American arm and Bolno continuing as COO.

"I think he has always been Scooter's executioner," one manager said. "Bolno doesn't really do anything that Scooter hasn't already sanctioned or approved from a business point of view."

Bolno has also been involved in legal disputes, including a lawsuit alleging fraud and threats, though the matter went to private arbitration.

Some artists have found his dual roles complicated, raising concerns about conflicts of interest in representation.

Final Days and Death

Bank records show that a week before her death she had more than $230,000 in a checking account.

Sterling insisted on meeting in person to talk about the potential move. Sitting together in the apartment, the broker got the impression that Sterling wasn't doing well and seemed desperate for companionship.

"I felt she was very lonely," the broker said.

Near the end of her life, Sterling had a falling out with her high school best friend and former roommate. The last time they hung out, Sterling broke down in tears, saying she felt intense pressure to make it as a singer and was worried she was going to blow her shot.

"The pressure was on her because she had this chance, and she got there faster than others," the friend said. "She felt that she didn't deserve it."

The night before she died, Sterling texted her dad to tell him she'd taken her epilepsy medicine.

At 11 p.m., a car picked her up from her apartment, and she arrived at the Setai just after midnight.

CCTV footage shows Bolno leaving the room at about 4:30 that morning. A note from the hotel's concierge indicated a car was arranged to take him to the airport shortly after.

Police records say a woman with "slow speech" called the front desk to order breakfast at 8:18 a.m.

Later, hotel staff conducted a welfare check after checkout was missed. They found Sterling unresponsive in the bathtub and called emergency services.

She was pronounced dead at 1:22 p.m.

The room contained her belongings, including clothing, luxury items, and substances identified as drugs.

Bolno stated he had left earlier and was not present at the time of death. He later gave a statement to police and said Sterling had used drugs socially but appeared sober when he left.

Authorities confirmed he cooperated with the investigation and was not considered a suspect.

Aftermath and Media Coverage

The lead detective on the case did not respond to requests for comment.

A department spokesman later stated that the investigation was closed, that Bolno had been ruled out as a subject, and that he had fully cooperated with police.

The reports did not detail who supplied the drugs to Sterling.

It took more than two weeks for Sterling's name to appear in the press.

The Daily Mail broke the story, and archived versions show changes in how Bolno was described in the article on the same day.

Since Sterling's death, Bolno has appeared to distance himself from the situation.

Numerous articles and blog posts highlighting his achievements and philanthropy have appeared online, including sponsored content that promotes his reputation.

Some of these articles describe him in highly positive terms and emphasize his business success and charitable contributions.

Within parts of the music industry, people are aware of the circumstances surrounding the case, according to an insider.

Some individuals involved in business with Bolno and his associates reported changes in communication following Sterling’s death.

Bolno has continued working in his professional role.

Sterling’s family has not spoken publicly in detail. A message attributed to her mother criticized media coverage, stating that it harmed her daughter’s reputation and focused unnecessarily on the circumstances of her death.

The message described Sterling as supportive of her family and highlighted her positive impact.

Friends and collaborators expressed frustration about the lack of information and public acknowledgment following her death.

Some noted that there was little public discussion or tribute despite her professional connections.

Others described the silence surrounding her death as unusual and difficult to understand.

Additional Evidence and Reports

(EXCLUSIVE: Death scene photos and report details)

Death scene photos of the Setai hotel room in Miami Beach where Camila Sterling overdosed show rumpled bedding, condoms and baggies of pink cocaine.

Evidence photos show two plastic bags of the substance inside the suite, along with pills, alcohol, designer clothing and jewelry.

Sterling, 24, died of an accidental overdose after spending hours with David Bolno, a partner at music management firm NKSFB.

The room contained drugs, discarded items, and personal belongings. She was found in the bathtub with multiple baggies of the substance identified as pink cocaine.

Medical reports state the cause of death was acute combined toxic effects of multiple drugs including ketamine, MDMA, and other substances.

Authorities reported no signs of trauma and confirmed no other individuals were present in the room at the time of death.

Hotel records and security footage confirmed Bolno left the room earlier that morning.

Additional items recovered included personal belongings, cash, pills, and drug paraphernalia.

Investigators documented the scene and collected evidence as part of the case.

The medical examiner concluded the death was accidental.

Further details from reports describe the condition of the room, including items found and substances present at the scene.

Part 2

CAMILLA STERLING - PART 02

EXCLUSIVE: Death scene photos of David Bolno's Setai hotel room in Miami Beach where aspiring singer Camila Sterling overdosed show a rumpled bed, condoms and baggies of pink cocaine.

Evidence photos obtained by DailyMail.com show the room at Miami's Setai Hotel where Camila Sterling was found dead of an overdose on March 30.

Images show two plastic bags of pink cocaine inside the plush one-

bed suite, along with an assortment of pills, condoms, designer clothes and jewelry.

Sterling, 24, died of an accidental overdose after spending hours with David Bolno, 46, a partner at music management giant NKSFB.

Strewn with drugs, soiled bedding and discarded condom wrappers, this is the swish Miami Beach hotel suite where a wannabe singer suffered a fatal overdose after spending hours with a married music executive.

Camila Sterling, 24, was found curled up dead in a bathtub on March 30 along with multiple baggies of a mystery powder later identified as trendy pink cocaine.

She had spent the evening at the five-star Setai Hotel with David Bolno, a 46-year-

old partner at music management giant NKSFB, according to a medical examiner's report – which states that 'no other person(s) are observed going to the room.'

Bolno was cleared of any involvement, however, after hotel cameras captured him leaving at 4:30am to catch a flight home to his wife and two kids in Los Angeles – hours before Sterling called room service to order breakfast.

Camila Sterling, 24, died from an accidental overdose at a hotel room at The Setai in Miami Beach on March 30, after spending hours with married music executive David Bolno.

The hotel bed is rumpled, the pillows have been tossed around and the sheets are stained with a reddish-pink fluid

According to the medical examiner, Sterling died of an accidental overdose caused by a deadly cocktail of ketamine,

A box of Trojan condoms was found in the room by police, with one packet opened.

The room was booked in married music executive David Bolno's name but he was not there when she died and was cleared of any involvement.

Bolno told DailyMail.com the incident was a 'terrible tragedy'.

David Bolno with his wife Stacy Pineles. Police say he is not a person of interest in the case.

The young Colombian-born singer's demise was ruled an accident caused by a deadly cocktail of ketamine, MDMA and the designer drug 'Tu si', known as pink cocaine because of its garish color.

Previously unseen crime scene photos, obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, show two plastic bags of the drug found inside the plush one-bed 28th floor suite, along with an assortment of pills, alcohol, designer clothes and jewelry.

One baggie was found tucked inside the aspiring performer's $2,800 Balenciaga handbag while a second was left on a coffee table beside a straw and remnants of powder cut into a line.

Officers from the Miami Beach Police Department also took photos of an opened packet of three Trojan Fire & Ice con doms retrieved from a kitchen trash can.

Two of the condom wrappers were untouched but a corner was torn from a third.

The corresponding fragment of packaging can be seen on the living room rug in another of our exclusive photos.

Two more unopened condoms were found inside Sterling's bag along with two unidentified white pills, cash, credit car

ds and her ID.

Bolno refused to comment on the harrowing scenes depicted in the photos.

He told DailyMail.com in the wake of Sterling's death that she was an aspiring singer whom he was looking to sign and there was nothing untoward about their interaction.

Sterling was found curled up dead in a bathtub along with multiple baggies of the pink drug. Investigators took her body out of the tub and placed it on the floor, covered with a sheet.

Authorities discovered open bottles of mineral water and a used baggy of the pink cocaine, alongside a straw, littered a

Evidence photos show the contents of Sterling's $2,800 Balenciaga bag included makeup, a $20 bill and condoms.

An open condom packet was also found in the hotel room's wastebasket along with cans of Coca Cola.

Authorities also found two unidentified white tablets in addition to the pink drug.

Pink cocain

'I really liked her. I was helping her make music ... It was a terrible tragedy,' said Bolno, who lives on an $11.4million LA

estate with his wife Stacy, 45.

'I had vacated the room in the earlier part of the morning, so I wasn't there when they found her.'

Asked why a beautiful woman, 22 years his junior, would have been in his room at such odd hours of the night, Bolno in

sisted: 'I let her stay there, there's not much more to it'.

Located in a soaring, waterfront high-rise, the music mogul's one-bed suite typically rents for around $1,500 a night.

A note left by hotel staff indicates Bolno was also assigned a fancy Cadillac Escalade to drive him to the airport at 4:45 am on the day Sterling was found.

Our exclusive photos show the suite's fridge stocked with alcohol and champagne but the pair seemed to have stuck t o cola and mineral water.

Cushions are strewn around the living area and several tissues litter the floor. The cloakroom basin has a sprinkling of tell-tale pink powder.

Sterling's white handbag and Louis Vuitton wallet were photographed on top of a bedroom dresser along with her velour Juicy Couture tracksuit.

Officers took further snaps of her Cartier Juste un Clous bracelet, which starts at around $3,300, and sought- after Yeezy sneakers.

exclusive photos show the suite's fridge was stocked with alcohol and champagne but the pair seemed to have stuck t o cola and mineral water.

What appear to be bloody stains were found on the bedsheets.

What appear to be bloody stains were found on tissues that were also recovered at the scene.

The bed is unmade, the pillows have been tossed around and the sheets are stained with a reddish-pink fluid. A bloodied, scrunched-

up tissue sits among the sheets and there are more bloodied and pinkish tissues nestling inside a garbage can in the e n-suite bathroom where Sterling was found dead.

Several photos of her lifeless, naked body were included in the cache of images, obtained via a Freedom of Information request, however DailyMail.com has decided not to publish them.

A medical examiner's report previously revealed by DailyMail.com notes that Sterling – described as a non- drinker and non-smoker by her family –

was found with a towel wrapped around her hair as if she had just stepped out of the shower.

There were no signs of trauma on her body but she did have a history of epilepsy and seizures, according to the notes, which list the cause of death as 'acute combined toxic effects of multiple drugs.'

The medical examiner's report states that Sterling arrived at the Setai 'to visit a male just after midnight'.

'The male checked out of the hotel at approximately 4 am,' the report explains. 'No other person(s) are observed going to the room.'

It goes on: 'The unknown male left at approximately 4:30 am for his return flight. His exit was confirmed on hotel security cameras.

'At approximately 12pm, checkout was scheduled but when hotel staff discovered that no checkout was made, a welfare check was conducted.

According to the medical examiner's report, a welfare check was conducted after the occupant failed to check out by

noon.

Sterling's Green Card – under the name Laura Lozano –

A note left by hotel staff indicates Bolno was also assigned a fancy Cadillac Escalade to drive him to the airport at 4:45am

Sterling's velour Juicy Couture tracksuit was photographed on top of a bedroom dresser along with her other belongings

Officers took further snaps of her Cartier Juste un Clous bracelet, which starts at around $3,300.

They also recovered sought-after Yeezy sneakers.

'Upon entry into the room, the decedent was found in a fetal position inside the tub. There was no water in tub and water was not running.

'The decedent had a towel wrapped around her hair as if she had just completed her shower. Hotel staff initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

'In the hotel room, there was an unknown pink powdery substance located on the coffee table along with a clear baggie with the same substance. A cut drinking straw was next to the substance.

'Pink residue was also noted in the second bathroom sink along with a pillow on the floor. Also, a search of the deceased's purse by law enforcement revealed another clear baggie with the same substance.'

The report says further investigation confirmed that a female called room service at 8am 'for only one person'. The staff arrived to find a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door.

'After several knocks with no answer, entry was made into the room and no one was seen in sight. As a result, the room service was left in the room and hotel staff exited not knowing that she was in the tub when they announced themselves.'

The report says Sterling moved from Bogota to Florida 11 years ago, was legally married and was employed as a musician and producer in the music industry.

Camila Sterling was born in the Colombian capital Bogota, in 1998 and spent most of her childhood in the South American country before moving to florida at 14 with her family.

Camila Sterling first moved to Florida from Colombia aged 14.

The aspiring singer has released two songs onto Spotify entitled Moët and Hookah.

The Setai is among Miami's most exclusive hotels. Rooms run up to $2,600 a night.

An autopsy revealed two white pills in her stomach along with evidence of pulmonary and brain congestion.

She tested positive for drugs including methamphetamine, amphetamine, MDMA, Ketamine, Oxycodone and Alprazol am, a sedative.

Several of these drugs can cause death by stroke, seizure or cardiac arrest, the report notes. Pink cocaine, a lab-

made, designer drug originated in Colombia and gets its name from the strawberry food dye added to it along with ca

caffeine and ketamine.

It typically does not contain cocaine and more closely resembles ecstasy in its composition and the effect it has on use rs, making it popular with clubbers.

Bolno works in NKSFB's Westwood office, focusing on business management.

In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter in 2018, he said he'd had the opportunity to work with some of the largest tours that year, adding that he finds his job 'fulfilling' when his clients have 'breakout success.'

To unwind, the Hollywood business manager said he likes 'to spend as much time as I can with my family.'

Sterling released her first single Hookah on her 23rd birthday last year. Her tracks have garnered over 1.5million plays on Spotify.

Evidence

I came across this information and why can’t I say I’m surprised? ALLEGEDLY TAG PR was created within HYBE’s corporate ecosystem, it was not acquired later, instead it was made by HYBE.

📌 QUOTES FROM THE TRANSLATION OF A KOREAN POST:

“HYBE is not the acquirer of TAG PR... it’s the one that created it.

On January 17, 2024, TAG PR was registered as a corporation in California. The applicant, Andrew Sahn, was the legalofficer for Ithaca Holdings.

Then, on January 31, Melissa Nathan was registered as the new CEO. The documents also list a previous director, Ithaca Media Ventures. All of the Ithaca entities are 100% owned by HYBE.

For reference, the Delaware headquarters was first registered in September 2023 (In the U.S., it’s common to register in Delaware while actually operating in another city, because it’s legally advantageous). The filing agent was Cogency Global, which according to HYBE’S official website audition page, is a copyright agency.

The conclusion: this is a company by HYBE, of HYBE, and for HYBE.”

📌 MORE INFORMATION QUOTED FROM ANOTHER POST:

1. California registration:

January 17, 2024: TAG PR registered as a corporation in California.

Applicant: Andrew Sahn, legal officer for Ithaca Holdings.

2. CEO & directors:

January 31, 2024: Melissa Nathan registered as CEO.

Previous director: Ithaca Media Ventures.

All Ithaca entities are 100% owned by HYBE.

3. Background:

Melissa Nathan has worked with high-profile clients including Johnny Depp, Drake, Trump Organization and Jeffrey Epstein.Delaware registration: September 2023: TAG PR’s Delaware headquarters registered.

Reason: Delaware registration is common in the U.S. for legal/tax advantages, even if the company operates elsewhere.

4. Filing agent: Cogency Global, a copyright agency listed on HYBE’s official site.

Conclusion: HYBE did not acquire TAGPR, HYBE created and owns it. TAG PR is fully part of HYBE’s operations, not an independent firm, it was built to manage narratives and public perception for HYBE and its interests.”

The way this is not surprising in the slightest. The lengths that this disgusting, greedy man and his company go to manipulate the media and industries in the favor of the company and its artists is ridiculous.

What’s crazy too is that not only have they ALLEGEDLY created this PR agency for this purpose, but they’ve also managed to form and nurture a cult that goes to war for them like mindless brainless dogs.

I can’t help but feel like things in K-pop are about to get a lot more sinister because of HYBE.

And (ALLEGEDLY) The CEO of TAG PR (Melissa Nathan), a firm created within HYBE’s corporate structure and approved at the parent-company level, comes from an elite crisis-management background, having worked with figures and organizations like Jeffery Epstein, Johnny Depp and Trump Organization.

From this (https://people.com/justin-baldoni-crisis-pr-raised-bill-concern-blake-lively-taylor-swift-fan-base-

11790122) link, Justin Baldoni hired TAG PR for smear campaign against Blake Lively.

And Melissa Nathan is the CEO of TAG PR under HYBE. Same PR who was assigned against NJ

There's a whole post of full TAG PR thing.. (I've written it above -starting)

Melissa Nathan has ties to the Hollywood reporter…

Melissa Nathan Coordinated with The Hollywood Reporter on Crucial Baldoni Article

On August 13 2024, The Hollywood Reporter published an article stating that Justin Baldoni had hired Johnny Depp's crisis PR reps amidst the IEWU fallout. This article frustrated Baldoni who assumed that the story had been placed by Lively's team to smear him. He reached out to his PR team to vent his frustration and to seek assurances thatthe leak had not come from "his" side. He received assurances.

It's clear that this article was one of the milestone events that convinced Baldoni that he was being smeared by Lively. It turns out that the article was not placed by Lively, but was instead leaked/placed by Melissa Nathan's friend and Nathan activey collaborated with THR on the article. This is revealed in detail in the extract of Baldoni's deposition (see page 9 onwards) at Dk 1056- Exhibit 5.

This illustrates how some of the narratives that have been established in this case may/will not stand up to scrutinyonce subjected to expert examination as was displayed here by Ms Shah.

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.634304/gov.uscourts.nysd.634304.1056.5.pdf

THR : https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/justin-baldoni-hires-pr-crisis-manager-melissa-

nathan-it-ends-with-us-1235973715/

HYBE TAG PR seems to be more sinister than we imagined. This is insane...

David Bolno is HYBE American COO. Bolno is also close friends and businesses partners with Scooter braun.

Camilla Sterling -

She was dating David Bolno and found dead in his (or her, it's slightly unclear, it's just confirmed that they were together slightly before she was found) hotel room.

This should be irrefutable proof that Tag PR is shilling for Hybe..

Hybe's PR Guru got caught creating a smear campaign against a female move producer.

The article..Melissa Nathan of TAG PR fame strikes again. This time she got involved in a feud between Rebel Wilson and the producer on one of her movies. She was going to plant a story that the producer in question, Amanda Ghost, ofbeing a sex trafficker. Funny how often the targets of her PR smear campaigns happen to be women. Lovely companythe "underdog" company that these fine Oppars built keeps.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/rebel-wilsons-smear-campaign-leaked-audio-1236527759/

Wait, let me get this straight... so HYBE America (Scooter Braun) basically went and acquired TAG PR (The Agency Group), which is the same firm led by Melissa Nathan?

For those who don't remember, Melissa Nathan was the PR guru for Johnny Depp during the trial against Amber Heard. You know, the trial where there was a massive, coordinated social media campaign to smear Amber Heard and turnthe entire internet against her?

Now HYBE owns 51% of this company. This feels so calculated, especially with everything happening with Min Hee-jin and NewJeans. It's like they bought the exact "machinery" needed to control the narrative and run smear campaigns against anyone who crosses them.

According to the official reports:

Acquisition: HYBE America acquired a 51% stake in The Agency Group PR LLC (TAG PR) for approximately $25million (around August 2024).

Purpose: Officially to "strengthen PR resources in the U.S.," but fans are calling it out as buying a "smear factory."

Services listed: Messaging and Narrative Development, Digital and Social Strategy, and Crisis Communications.

The fact that they are hiring the people who "won" the Depp trial by winning the "court of public opinion" through social media manipulation is terrifying. This isn't just PR; it's psychological warfare on the fandom.

HYBE bought TAG PR firm that represented Johnny Depp during the Amber Heard trial for US$25 million.

on August 1, 2024 and that PR firm has already started working on spinning HYBE’s fight with NewJeans and MHJ in American press, if comments by Billboard columnist Jeff Benjamin are taken at face value.

Source.

As I’m writing this, he is currently being harassed by kpop stans on Twitter, with several people demanding he post theinformation he got without fact checking. Previously he wrote a timeline of the dispute for Billboard and revealed all the information about MHJ was provided by HYBE and that they had not given him any official ways to reach her. However both by his account and MHJ’s interview, he was able to contact her after the fact and is now reviewing the information from her side.

MHJ says the information Jeff told her HYBE sent him about her was defamatory; HYBE’s PR says it wasn’t, Jeff Benjamin has taken no sides. That’s the current context of ARMYs now demanding that he reveal what MHJ sent him, and basically pick a side.

Source for HYBE'S TAG purchase : https://www.thedailyjagran.com/entertainment/kpop-fans-express-concern-over-

bts-hybe-acquisition-of-pr-firm-linked-to-hollywood-stars-johnny-depp-and-justin-baldoni-10189229

-----

There's a misinformation going on the highlighted part.. so let me add the clarification :

>However both by his account and MHJ’s interview, he was able to contact her after the fact and is now reviewing theinformation from her side.

That is not what the tweet in that SS is about. Jeff posted a tweet of his own, with SS of convos he had with HYBE andwith MHJ. In the MHJ texts, she references information that Jeff shared with her.

MHJ: “So HYBE sent this to you? This is crazy.”

HYBE responded to Jeff's tweets asking what "this" MHJ is referring to. That information of whatever MHJ seems to think Jeff sent, supposedly from HYBE, is what ARMY are asking him to release and explain.

Why would he need to fact check and verify something sent to him from HYBE when the question is, what did HYBE send you? Why would HYBE be pushing him to show receipts if what they sent him was how MHJ characterized it? Andwhy are you ignoring that Jeff himself said that MHJ misrepresented what he said?

****Also worth adding that Koreans have pointed out that Jeff uses the wrong word for 'claim' when speaking to MHJwhich is what could have led to this confusion in the first place, as the version he used expresses a negative connotation. So, as a result, MHJ could have been led to believe Jeff was saying HYBE was spreading negative information about her from his word choice which isn't what he meant and we know that because of the English version of what he posted where claim is used as a neutral term.

COMMENTS -;

User 1 :

The firm Johnny Depp used specifically for his case and the one Justin Baldoni is using is called Hiltzik Stratergies.

The company mentioned in this article is called TAG PR. When searching online about connection to Johnny Deppand Justin Baldoni, the only thing that shows up linking them is this article and other articles that are using this article as a source.

If anyone anyone can link me to how these two firms are connected, I would be really thankful because right now, itjust feels like the Indian newspaper didn't do their due diligence.

User 2 :

This is from (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7185977687608283136) naming Johnny Deppas their client.

This is the only point I'll respond to because although some people in the comments are accusing me of spreadingmisinformation, I'm hoping everyone else knows enough to read for themselves if what I wrote is true. Everything Iwrote above is correct.

User 1 :

So this is not the agency that he specially used during the Amber Heard case. Nor the one Justing Buldoni is using.

Do you understand how hard it would be to avoid any agency of repute that represents at least some problematic stars.

The whole point of people being angry about the other agency at the time was that they had really aggressive strategies and are usually used for smear campaigns.

So this is not equivalent. And the article is spreading misinformation by linking two separate events.

User 2 :

This is (https://www.jezebel.com/what-the-hell-is-going-on) for you.

User 1 :

So she worked at the previous one and has now opened this new agency right.

User 3 replying to User 1 or User 2 :

That is correct. HYBE acquired the new agency, which represents, in addition to Johnny Depp, an amusement parkchain (Cedar Point, Kings Island). They are not just a crisis PR management firm for disastrous people. They provid

e social media strategies, branding, and other services.

They are being made out to be evil. Realistically, for HYBE expanding into the west, it makes sense to have a firm who can help with media strategies that translate to western culture.

User 4 replying to User 3 :

Isn't also the PR firm American and specifically brought in for Hybe America? The same Hybe America that lost some major clients - ones that Scooter Braun had.

A lot of people in the USA still hear Scooter Braun and think Taylor Swift and lost major clients. Him being CEO nowis going to cast a shade over the company. So, a good PR firm has been needed for that company a long time. Especially if Hybe America is going to be used for expansion into the western music by Hybe or Hybe Japan.

Also, if Hybe needed help with Hybe Korea -they would hire a Korean PR firm, most likely due to cultural differences in between the two countries. Much like Hybe Japan, it would hire a Japanese PR firm.

User 3 replying to User 4 :

Not correct. Hiltzik Strategies and Matthew Hiltzik himself represented Depp during the crisis period involving Amber Heard. (Sources below.) An employee, Melissa Nathan, from that firm started TAG later, and Depp is now represented by TAG. She did not represent him during his Amber Heard trial.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Hiltzik#:~:text=He%20handled%20public%20relations%20pro,Depp%20a

nd%20revitalize%20his%20career

https://www.gawkerarchives.com/media/the-former-trump-aide-behind-johnny-depps-image-rehab

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jun/11/johnny-depp-film-career-hollywood-amber-heard

User 2 :

It's widely reported that Nathan represented Johnny Depp during the trial, which is why he remains her client bothin Hiltzik and TAG, which HYBE bought.

HYBE making 3 people simultaneously run 155 phones with laptops to manipulate public opinions. (3mo)

Original caption on Twitter was Korean. The translation were

— “How much larger scale do companies like TAG PR connected to HYBE, or Minglespoon operate on compared to this? And now Coupang is learning and copying that recently? This account suggested, the negative hate and publicmanipulation was directed towards Newjeans, Aespa and Hyunjin. Wouldn’t be surprised if they did this to other idols too.