Thai fans demand an apology from Hybe for allegedly disparaging Blackpink’s Lisa

SEOUL – K-pop fans in Thailand are protesting against South Korean entertainment conglomerate Hybe over the leak of an internal document. It reportedly contained unverified rumors about K-pop girl group Blackpink and its Thai member Lisa.

The document, titled Weekly Music Industry Report, was intended for Hybe executives as part of their weekly review of industry trends. This came to light on October 24 during an audit of the National Assembly.

It contained harsh and derogatory remarks about K-pop artists, including those unrelated to Hybe, and has since sparked widespread backlash.

Blackpink is owned by YG Entertainment.

The documentary allegedly criticized Blackpink’s achievements and suggested that Lisa’s success at the MTV Video Music Awards may have been inflated by “suspicious voting activity,” which the report attributed to the intervention of her “internal fandom.” The “internal fandom” is believed to refer to Lisa’s Thai fans.

Lisa, 27, won Best K-pop at the MTV Video Music Awards in September for her song Rockstar, which was released in June. The singer won in the same category in 2022 for her debut solo single Lalisa.

Hybe’s documentary sparked outrage among K-pop fans in Thailand, one of the largest K-pop fan groups in the world, where Lisa is widely considered a national icon.

Thai media widely covered the controversy, fueling the anger of fans who then mobilized online to demand a formal apology from Hybe, with the hashtag #HybeApologizeToLisa trending on X’s social media platform.

Thai fan Kasidhat Gorman, 35, said social media posts carrying Thai news reports about the leaked document and Hybe’s alleged attempt to discredit Lisa were spreading rapidly.

“The Hybe docs issue really took off when the part mentioning Blackpink and Lisa came out,” he said on October 31. “You don’t touch Lisa here. She is a national heroine in Thailand, just like (K-pop boy band) BTS is in South Korea.”

On October 29, Hybe CEO Lee Jae-sang apologized for the document, admitting that its content was deeply inappropriate and admitting that documenting and sharing opinions and personal views was insensitive.

“We sincerely apologize to the innocent artists and industry members who have been harmed by misinterpretations, including unfounded suspicions of reverse viral marketing,” he said in a press statement. “We also extend our official apology to all Hybe artists who have unfairly faced criticism over this issue.”

He assured stakeholders that Hybe had taken immediate action by ceasing the production of such monitoring documents. He pledged to strengthen internal controls to prevent similar problems from occurring in the future.

According to South Korean media reports, the employee responsible for preparing the document was dismissed from his position and transferred to the human resources team.

However, some industry insiders criticized this move, considering it merely an attempt to make a scapegoat. Questions have been raised about senior management’s responsibility, with critics saying responsibility likely extends beyond the document’s author.

“Even if the draft was the editor-in-chief, there must have been someone who assigned it to him, as well as others who reviewed it later,” said music critic Lim Hee-yun. “The problem is the explicit content in it. “Punishing only the person who wrote it will certainly attract criticism.” KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK