Why BTS Fans Are Taking Out Full-Page Newspaper Ads And Sending Flower Wreaths To HYBE

This article is part of our coverage of HYBE vs. ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. You can read more and view the entire timeline here.

The BTS fandom wants HYBE to properly take action against “false news and rumors” concerning BTS. So, they are making their voices heard in more ways than one.

Wreaths of flowers were delivered to the headquarters of HYBE, the parent company of their label, BIGHIT MUSIC, in Yongsan District, central Seoul on Thursday. It was not meant as a kind gesture as it may appear initially.

+K army secured approval in advance for the placement of those wreaths for the public display from the local police department so Hybe wont remove them. Full message from the last wreath in pink is : "Congrats on becoming famous as the most incompetent agency in the industry"

— 🔑🗝Jiniya지니야_TheAstronaut👩‍🚀 (@Jiniya1204) May 3, 2024

Flower wreaths are commonly sent to offer condolence in South Korea, and protestors will also utilize them when opposing an organization with the indications of “death.” So, these wreaths of flowers also contained ARMYs’ messages denouncing HYBE.

• “Congratulations on becoming known as the industry’s most incompetent agency.”
• “Why aren’t you replying to the demand for an official statement? Sending this in case you’re dead.”
• “When in need, it’s our darling BTS. But when in disadvantage, they’re just human shields.”
• “HYBE’s business management skills – declared dead.”

Likewise, ARMYs also took out full-page advertisements in Korean newspapers, stating, “We support BTS, not HYBE.” Many BTS fans believe HYBE founder and Chairman Bang Si Hyuk (also known as Bang PD or Hitman Bang) and CEO Park Ji Won are using the K-Pop group as “shields” to protect themselves from increasing criticism. ARMYs are demanding that they refrain from using BTS in “media manipulation” while requesting their label protect BTS against defamation by taking legal action against such attacks.

There is no reason for an agency if it does not protect its artists. Should the agency not fulfill its most basic duty defending its artists, it could become a credible reason [for the artist] to terminate its contract.

— ARMY

The letter, published in Korean newspapers, was signed by “BTS fans, ARMY.” This and the flower wreath delivery were organized by @blessyouhybe on X (formerly Twitter). According to Money Today, over 500 ARMYs collected ₩31.4 million KRW (about $23,000 USD) to make this project happen.

5.3일자 신문에 게첨된 중앙일보 성명문의 실제 출력본을 공유합니다.
총 32면 중 15면에 게첨되었으며 온라인 신문 및 지류 신문을 통하여 확인해보실 수 있습니다.
매일경제신문 게첨 성명문은 내일 아침 8~9시 경 올려드리도록 하겠습니다. pic.twitter.com/xoyH4pfmMv

— 근조화환 총공 계정 (@blessyouhybe) May 2, 2024

업체로부터 전달받은 화환의 일부 실사를 공유합니다.
전달받은 시안이 많아 일부 시안만을 공유하는 점 양해 부탁드리며 나머지 화환들은 이번주 금요일 오전 9시부터 용산 사옥 앞에서 확인하실 수 있습니다. pic.twitter.com/DwreC6a0BW

— 근조화환 총공 계정 (@blessyouhybe) May 2, 2024

Another group of ARMYs sent trucks with LED screens to HYBE headquarters on Thursday. This, too, was in protest of HYBE.

K-Pjms send protest trucks to hybe demanding them and bang pd to stop being coward and hide behind bts 😭🔥 https://t.co/EFvkvlGL9l pic.twitter.com/a0WOGMDfHk

— 𐙚𝗝𝗠 𝟭𝗕 𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗕 (@jyymim) May 2, 2024

HYBE has come under fire recently as the company is in an ongoing feud with ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. During this time, netizens have accused BIGHIT MUSIC of rigging music sales, linking the label and BTS to meditation company Dahn World (widely speculated to be a cult), etc. BIGHIT MUSIC has denied these claims and recently taken action regarding defaming its artists. Read more below.

BIGHIT MUSIC Addresses Alleged Cult Association And Other Accusations Relating To BTS