KUALA LUMPUR: The label of K-Pop giants BTS, HYBE will be investigated by the Korea Creative Content Agency (Kocca) for alleged chart-rigging practices.
Koreaboo reported yesterday that the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently received petitions to investigate why the label paid blackmailers in 2017 after being accused online.
According to online posts, HYBE (then known as Big Hit Entertainment) was blackmailed by a person known as Lee and three accomplices for using "expedient marketing strategies" to promote BTS' 2015 album.
Lee was sentenced to a year in jail and the other three blackmailers were released with a fine.
The court said that Lee had made a "sajaegi marketing deal" with Big Hit Entertainment and used the information against them.
Sajaegi is a Korean term for bulk-buying or hoarding.
Another petition has been requested for the ministry to revoke the group's Order of Cultural Merit award given to them in 2018.
Last Thursday, Big Hit released a statement saying that it will report malicious posts against BTS and will watch online platforms to prevent their reputation being damaged.
BTS fans known as ARMY have taken to social media to protest against the government's investigation with the hashtag "South Korea apologise to BTS".
The fans are denying the claims of chart-rigging, saying that the group rose to the top of the charts through hard work.
Last Friday, fans sent sign boards displaying messages of protest outside HYBE's headquarters in Seoul.
The BTS members are currently undergoing mandatory military service and are expected to reunite next year.