Hybe apologizes over controversial internal documents, reassigns writer

Hybe CEO Lee Jae sang on Tuesday apologized over the recent disclosure of an internal document that contained controversial remarks about K pop artist...

Hybe CEO Lee Jae-sang on Tuesday apologized over the recent disclosure of an internal document that contained controversial remarks about K-pop artists. The document, intended for Hybe executives as part of an industry trends review on a weekly basis, surfaced during a National Assembly audit on Thursday and has since sparked widespread backlash.

“I bow my head in apology to the artists, industry colleagues and fans affected by the language used in our monitoring document, which was highlighted during an audit of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee at the National Assembly on Oct. 24,” Lee said in a press statement.

According to Lee, the document was initially created to gather and share various reactions and opinions on the industry among select leadership members. He admitted that the contents were deeply inappropriate and acknowledged the insensitivity in how opinions and personal views were documented and shared.

The document, revealed by Rep. Min Hyung-bae of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, included harsh and derogatory remarks about K-pop artists outside Hybe, with personal opinions and judgments added by the writer.

In light of the controversy, the employee responsible for drafting the document was relieved of the position and reassigned to a human resources team, according to a local media report on Tuesday. The employee has been identified by his surname Kang, and was editor-in-chief of Weverse Magazine, the editorial platform for K-pop fans under Weverse, Hybe’s subsidiary global fandom platform.