Popular K-Pop girl group IVE’s official YouTube channel, along with the channels of several other artists under their agency Starship Entertainment, were targeted by hackers in a bizarre incident.
On March 4th, 2024, Starship Entertainment confirmed to Korean news outlet Edaily that their artists’ YouTube channels had been compromised. This included not just IVE, but also established groups like Monsta X and Cravity.
“We are currently working with YouTube to resolve the issue and apologize for any inconvenience caused to the users,” stated Starship Entertainment. “We are making efforts to quickly restore the content.”
Earlier on the same day, fans noticed unusual activity on the affected channels. The channel names were all changed to “SpaceX,” and all previously uploaded content, including music videos, performances, and behind-the-scenes clips, were made private.
This sent shockwaves through the K-Pop community, with fans expressing concern and confusion on social media.
IVE YOUTUBE CHANNEL GOT HACKED?! @IVEstarship @STARSHIPent @STARSHIP_STAFF @YouTube pic.twitter.com/6AyNQBRqYO
— 안녕zz (@anyujinsss) March 4, 2024
“IVE’s YouTube channel got hacked? What is even happening?” tweeted one fan.
Another fan commented, “This is so weird! Why would they change the name to SpaceX?”
Starship Entertainment’s artists boast a large and dedicated fanbase: IVE and Monsta X’s channels each have over 3 million subscribers, while Cravity’s channel has close to 800,000 subscribers. Losing access to their favorite artists’ content caused significant disappointment among fans.
The connection to SpaceX, the aerospace manufacturer founded by Elon Musk, remains unclear. There have been previous instances of social media accounts being hacked and flooded with SpaceX-related content, suggesting a potential pattern of targeting by the same hacker or group.
Starship Entertainment and YouTube are working together to investigate the incident and restore the affected channels to their original state. As of now, there is no information on the timeline for when the content will be made public again.
About IVE: IVE is a six-member girl group formed by Starship Entertainment in 2021. They debuted with the single “ELEVEN” and quickly gained popularity for their catchy music and synchronized choreography. The group consists of members Gaeun, Leeseo, Rei, Wonyoung, Liz, and Yujin.
Where to Find IVE’s Music: While their official YouTube channel is currently unavailable, fans can still find IVE’s music on various streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
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