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On October 26, 2024, HYBE faced accusations of trying to demean other K-pop groups like Stray Kids and NCT. According to the internal document revealed by the Democratic Party of Korea representative Min Hyung-bae at the National Assembly audit on October 24, over 2,000 pages contained derogatory remarks against the two popular K-pop groups.
A post from the Korean online platform TheQoo went viral online that shared the particular segment from HYBE's internal report where the company allegedly body-shamed Stray Kids' Changbin. The statement from the report read:
"Feel sorry because of the difference in physique. Feel even sorrier thinking about how when Stray Kids’ Changbin filmed a challenge with NMIXX, their heights were so similar. Keep feeling that way thinking about how it was when Changbin stood next to Yeonjun on camera, because he just so happened to be friends with Yeonjun."
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Netizens were baffled to see such a negative remark made against JYP Entertainment's boy group, Stray Kids. Furthermore, the document also allegedly demeaned NCT Dream, a K-pop group from SM Entertainment, stating that TXT's Yeonjun and Soobin looked better physically compared to NCT Dream and Stray Kids members. For the unversed, TXT is a HYBE K-pop idol group.
One X user lashed out at HYBE and wrote on X:
"A whole company acting like a child that's so embarrassing"
Stray Kids fans were outraged as the HYBE internal document from the National Assembly audit went viral online, demeaning the MANIAC group. Some fans highlighted that the document also allegedly mentioned other group names such as aespa, BABYMONSTER, NMIXX, TWICE, Wonder Girls, and BLACKPINK, among others.
"Internal documents revealed at the National Assembly Audit shows HYBE badmouthing a lot of groups including AESPA, BABYMONSTER, NMIXX, STRAY KIDS, NCT, WONDER GIRLS, TWICE, BLACKPINK and more… the way they described these groups is disgusting, hybe really needs to be put down." an X user wrote.
"Hybe has always been jealous of Stray Kids success. They wrote trash things about skz & belittled them in many hybe articles. They tried to demean skz achievements while praising & making their own artists superior. Like who does that?They even body-shamed skz.This is pure evil," another user wrote.
"let me LAUGH wdym overshadowed. Hybe saw stray kids becoming the most successful 4th gen boygroup and their group failing to reach skzs suceess and said HOLD UP LET ME WRITE SOME DAMN ARTICLES," another user remarked.
Additionally, NCT fans united online to lash out at HYBE for their alleged crude "opinions" against the physical appearances of K-pop idols.
"It’s the fact hybe is attacking NCT dream AND SKZ .., both with loads of success and talent .. based off of “physique” news flash everyone has different body types and not everyone is going to look the same.." one fan commented.
"Only 4 pages of the 2000 pages report abt hybe’s opinions on idols were released which makes it crazier that within these 4 pages is a paragraph with the subheading “NCT 해찬” comparing Haechan to their own artist acting like their artist got so much h4te and hc got nothing…" another user stated.
"SM's failure to protect their artists even by doing something as simple as reviewing content before uploading has given Hybe the opportunity to badmouth SM’s artists as seen in hc’s case. Hybe even went so far as to create a headline specifically mentioning “NCT Haechan”." another user added.
More about Stray Kids and NCT's activities between 2023 and 2024
Stray Kids, known for their intense, self-produced music and fierce choreography, dropped their full-length album 5-Star in June 2023. Featuring lead single S-Class, the album propelled them to new heights, reaching #1 on both domestic and international charts, including the Billboard 200 in the U.S.
They became the third K-pop boy group in history to reach the top of the Billboard 200. S-Class combined elements of hip-hop, EDM, and experimental sounds. Members Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han of the production unit 3RACHA were integral in crafting the album’s unique sound.
The group continued its momentum in early 2024 with the release of a mini-album ATE, on July 19, 2024. The album topped the Billboard 200 chart. They became the only artists in history to debut their first five albums on the Billboard 200 at No. 1 including Oddinary, Maxident, 5-Star, Rock-Star, and ATE.
The 23-member ensemble of NCT also captivated fans worldwide with their full-length album Golden Age in August 2023. The album brought together all members from various sub-units—NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV—on one ambitious project.
Released at a crucial time in the group’s journey, Golden Age came alongside the announcement of NCT's new unit restructuring in late 2023. This album marked the first NCT project to include members from all sub-units. NCT Dream (another sub-unit) also released their mini-album Candy. The EP sold over 2 million album copies according to The Korea Times report.
In other news, Stray Kids held their ongoing dominATE world tour concert on October 26, 2024, in Sydney, New South Wales at the Allianz Stadium. Their next concert will be on November 2 in Taiwan at the Kaohsiung National Stadium followed by at Tokyo Dome, Japan, on November 14, 16, and 17.
