HYBE Employees' "Offensive" Remarks About BTS's Jungkook Stir Controversy

Fans are demanding that action be taken against HYBE employees for their comments about BTS‘s Jungkook.

On September 14, Jungkook shared a photo of his pet dog Bam on his @bowwow_bam account, accompanied by the caption, "Artists are not guilty," and included five heart emojis in the same colors used by NewJeans members in their promotional material.

After speculation, it was confirmed that Jungkook’s post was an act of support for his younger peers, NewJeans.

Subsequently, HYBE employees were found criticizing Jungkook's involvement in the matter on the BLIND app. BLIND is an anonymous platform where employees can discuss their workplaces and requires verification through a work email.

The revelation of these comments has sparked outrage among fans, particularly because some of the remarks appeared to directly insult Jungkook.

Fans have mobilized to demand action against these employees, flooding the company with emails about the issue. Additionally, numerous hashtags and trends supporting Jungkook have emerged..

Since April, HYBE employees on Blind—a platform requiring work email verification for registration—have been making derogatory and mocking comments about NewJeans. These remarks have been directed not at the company's leadership but at the group members themselves. The situation became more concerning when it was clear that the employees, many of whom are significantly older than NewJeans' youngest members, were creating a hostile environment rather than providing support.

Korean forums are currently abuzz with outrage over these comments. The situation is particularly troubling given that HYBE’s existence is largely due to BTS, and yet some employees have been disrespecting even Jungkook, one of their most prominent idols. Unlike other companies where Blind posts tend to praise their idols, HYBE’s platform is filled with insults and mockery.

It has been noted that while a company needs at least 100 employees to be registered on Blind, ADOR employees have never been seen on the platform before. Recently, however, one was found using offensive language against NewJeans.

In response to the backlash, HYBE employees have been deleting posts and comments, but K-netizens have preserved evidence of the derogatory remarks. Critics are now accusing these employees of wasting work hours manipulating public opinion instead of focusing on their actual responsibilities.