HYBE’s CEO, Lee Jae Sang, has publicly apologized after leaked internal documents from the company came under scrutiny for containing inappropriate content about other K-pop artists. The CEO addressed the matter in a statement, emphasizing HYBE’s commitment to transparency and respect within the industry following this incident.

HYBE CEO Lee Jae Sang expressed regret over the company’s actions:

“As HYBE’s CEO, I would like to apologize for the company’s internal monitoring documents. I would like to bow my head in apology to the artists, industry officials, and fans regarding our internal monitoring documents that were shared during the National Assembly’s audit with the Ministry of Culture, Sport, and Tourism committee on October 24.”

Details of the Leaked Documents and HYBE’s Response

The documents, originally created to track public sentiment and industry trends, were leaked during an audit by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sport, and Tourism. According to Lee Jae Sang, these documents circulated internally among senior leaders. However, he acknowledged that the language and opinions documented were “provocative and crude,” going beyond typical industry monitoring practices.

“The documents were prepared through the collection of various public reactions and opinions in response to industry trends and issues. They were only shared within some members of leadership…however, the contents of the documents were extremely inappropriate,” he explained.

The CEO admitted that the documents included personal views and critiques of artists and agencies outside of HYBE, ultimately leading to misunderstandings and sparking damaging rumors. He also extended an apology to those affected, adding that HYBE had personally reached out to agencies representing the impacted artists.

“We respectfully and officially apologize to the artists who were mentioned in the documents and were hurt by them. We have also contacted each agency of the artists mentioned and apologized directly to them.”

Controversy Over Remarks and Allegations

According to sources, HYBE’s internal report included unflattering commentary about artists from competing companies. This included allegations against popular female idols from JYP Entertainment, remarks about aespa’s Winter allegedly copying LE SSERAFIM’s Chaewon’s hairstyle, and even discussions suggesting plans to distance the company from HYBE’s own girl group, NewJeans.

Following the release of this information, HYBE reportedly removed the executive responsible for creating these reports and has since halted the production of similar internal documents. Lee Jae Sang confirmed this decision:

“We acknowledge that the leadership who shared the documents lacked awareness of the potential issues they would bring, and as the CEO, I have immediately halted the creation of future documents.”

Looking Ahead: HYBE’s Commitment to Industry Standards

In response to the controversy, Lee Jae Sang committed to implementing more robust internal guidelines and controls. He stated that the company is re-evaluating its internal monitoring policies to prevent similar issues in the future. The CEO pledged to prioritize the well-being of artists and fans, along with the sustainable development of the K-pop industry.

“Once again, I would like to apologize to the artists, industry officials, fans, and everyone who loves and supports K-pop who were hurt by this.”

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