“Sold More Than NewJeans” — Netizens Roast ILLIT In The Midst Of HYBE’s Chart Manipulation Allegations
It was recently reported that ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin had made an explosive claim against HYBE. She had alleged that HYBE had proposed she use bulk buying to raise NewJeans‘ chart numbers. Upon refusal, it created a conflict between her and HYBE. The method that she talked about was called “advance buying,” where HYBE would make bulk purchase of albums from retailers in order to boost first-week sales numbers. Later, they would return the albums in refunds, but would strike deals with retailers for fansigns in order to clear the stocks. It was alleged that HYBE suggested she buy 100,000 copies of NewJeans’ albums like that.
The same day that the news of her allegations broke, it was also reported that HYBE’s new girl group ILLIT had hit 380,000 copies in first-week sales for their debut album, SUPER REAL ME. Fans and netizens were riled up as the reporter had invoked NewJeans in the article and title, claiming that ILLIT had “pushed their unnie group aside,” surpassing NewJeans’ sales. The Korean news report compared the two groups, claiming that NewJeans had previously held the number one spot for girl groups’ first-week sales, hitting 310,000 copies. The difference in the two groups would be 70,000 copies.
In response to the news, netizens are incredibly disgruntled. They roasted ILLIT, making reference to the advance buying allegations.
- Ah, this is so hilarious.
- LOL.
- Wow. So. Jealous.
- Just wonder how much they bought up!
- My company only has old people, and they know NewJeans but not these girls. Although I also felt that NewJeans really got popular off the bat… Their media play is so dirty.
- More than half the members are in their 20s. I wish they’d stop trying so gaslight people into thinking they’re in their teens LOL.
- LOOOL
- IJBOL
- LOL, f*ck this is so funny.
What do you think?