Media manipulation, known as “mediaplay,” is a deliberate strategy used by companies to shape public opinion by controlling how stories are told. This practice often involves misleading information, half-truths, and selectively reported facts to influence how people view celebrities and companies in the public eye. In the Korean entertainment industry, particularly in K-pop, several high-profile cases highlight how major entertainment companies use media manipulation to maintain their control. Jessica Jung‘s removal from Girls’ Generation and the ongoing conflict between NewJeans and HYBE are prime examples of how this powerful tool can be used to shape public opinion.
Jessica Jung’s Removal from Girls’ Generation
On September 30, 2014, Jessica Jung, a founding member of Girls’ Generation, took to her Weibo account to make a shocking statement. She revealed that she had been suddenly removed from the group by both SM Entertainment and her fellow members:
“I was so excited for the upcoming event, only to hear from my company and 8 other members that I am no longer a member of the group.”
This news sent shockwaves through the K-pop community. Jessica reiterated that she still cared deeply for Girls’ Generation and was forced out against her will. Initially, Dispatch released an article supporting Jessica’s claim that she was forced out, but the article was soon deleted, and in its place, news reports were released that painted SM Entertainment in a more favorable light.
Soon after Jessica’s departure, a flood of negative rumors and reports began to circulate. Various media outlets, seemingly in unison, began to accuse Jessica of skipping practices, avoiding overseas schedules, and being generally lazy. Fans were left confused and unsure of what to believe as the narrative shifted quickly. It appeared as though there was a concerted effort to ruin Jessica’s image.
One of the most damaging rumors was that Jessica had wanted to leave Girls’ Generation to get married. Reports claimed she had met with Lim Sang Hyuk, the lawyer who had represented JYJ (formerly of TVXQ) in their contract dispute with SM Entertainment, to terminate her contract. This speculation was designed to paint Jessica as someone who was selfish and prioritizing her personal life over the group. These rumors deeply affected fans’ trust in her, despite no evidence supporting them.
However, time has shown these rumors to be false. Jessica has not married, nor did she quit music to focus on her personal life. In fact, after leaving SM Entertainment in 2015, she continued to pursue her career, releasing her debut solo album With Love, J later that year. But despite her efforts to rebuild her career, her appearances on music shows were mysteriously canceled. Many suspected that SM Entertainment had used its influence with broadcasting networks to prevent Jessica from performing. This theory gained more weight when a male MC on JTBC’s Mixnine mentioned during her brief appearance, “It’s fine to say it at JTBC, but if it’s at SBS, we’ll be in trouble.” This comment led the public to believe that Jessica had likely been blacklisted from appearing on Korean television.
SeungRi: Why don’t you appear on broadcast anymore? Hongchul and YG were like: Aigoo SeungRi why you asked that.. Jessica: … SeungRi: It’s alright if it’s JTBC. If it’s SBS you’ll get into troubles.
Over the years, Jessica has opened up about the difficult period following her departure from Girls’ Generation, calling it the darkest time in her life. Despite not having any active lawsuits against SM Entertainment, Jessica has been unable to freely pursue her career in Korea, a testament to the lasting power of media manipulation.
“The truth always comes out in the end.” This was Jessica’s Weibo post on December 1, 2014. To this day, time has proven that a lot of untrue news has been released, and it has truly ruined her career. All the rumors spread about Jessica have been proven false.
In 2020 and 2022, Jessica released two novels, Shine and Bright, which were inspired by her experiences as a K-pop idol. While the books are fiction, many believe they offer insights into Jessica’s real-life experiences within the industry, including being blacklisted.
EXO-CBX’s Battle with SM Entertainment
In early 2023, three members of EXO, known collectively as EXO-CBX (Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin), filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment, accusing the company of unfair wages and “slave contracts.” The group also claimed that SM executives had engaged in fraudulent activities.
Initially, public support for EXO-CBX was strong, with many fans backing their claims. However, as the lawsuit progressed, online communities became filled with negative comments accusing the trio of being greedy and selfish. Some fans even turned against EXO-CBX, siding with SM Entertainment instead. There were widespread suspicions that SM had orchestrated a media campaign to influence public opinion, using “dummy” accounts to spread negative comments and shift fan support in their favor. Despite the public backlash, EXO-CBX eventually settled their dispute with SM, agreeing to continue under exclusive contracts for group activities.
NewJeans and HYBE: The Ongoing Struggle
In early 2023, Min Hee Jin, the CEO of ADOR (a subsidiary of HYBE), became involved in a public dispute with HYBE. The disagreement centered around her dismissal from her role as CEO, and during this time, several unverified articles about Min Hee Jin surfaced, further muddying the waters.
The members of NewJeans, the K-pop group managed by ADOR, soon became embroiled in the controversy. The group expressed their concerns in a livestream, where they talked about feeling scared and uncertain about the future, even going as far as to demand that Min Hee Jin be reinstated as ADOR’s CEO. However, HYBE swiftly deleted the livestream, and clips of the video were taken down under copyright claims.
Adding to the growing tension, an incident involving Hyein from NewJeans at Incheon Airport raised eyebrows among fans. Despite eight media outlets being present at the airport to report on various idols, only one journalist published a piece on Hyein attending the Louis Vuitton show. Fans suspected that HYBE was deliberately controlling media coverage of Hyein and NewJeans.
Soon after, a leaked call revealed even more troubling information: a HYBE PR representative was caught asking a journalist to downplay NewJeans’ achievements in an article. This revelation sparked outrage among fans, as it appeared that HYBE was manipulating the narrative around its own artists. The PR representative even alluded to arranging a “golf meeting” with an editor, a euphemism often associated with corruption in South Korea.
Key Cases of Media Manipulation in K-pop
Jessica Jung‘s forced removal from Girls’ Generation and subsequent blacklisting (2014)
The legal battle between EXO-CBX and SM Entertainment over contract disputes (2023)
The media controversy surrounding Min Hee Jin, NewJeans, and HYBE (2023)
These events illustrate how powerful entertainment companies like SM Entertainment and HYBE can manipulate the media to control narratives and sway public opinion. This manipulation often leaves idols in difficult positions, unable to speak out or defend themselves against false accusations, ultimately impacting their careers and reputations.
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