Who’s the author of HYBE’s controversial inner report?

HYBE’s headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul. Picture: Yonhap by way of The Korea Herald

A HYBE inner doc on Ok-pop trade tendencies, introduced to high executives, together with its chairman Bang Si-hyuk, has been fueling intense debate since its disclosure at a Nationwide Meeting audit on Oct. 24.

The report surprised Ok-pop followers and the general public with its critiques of younger idols’ appearances, describing some as “surprisingly unattractive” or “overly reliant on beauty enhancements,” which introduced vital consideration to the doc’s creator.

Opposite to native media studies suggesting he’s only a common worker at HYBE, trade sources say the creator is definitely the esteemed native popular culture critic Kang Myeong-seok.

Some native studies have solely partially recognized the creator, with some sources including that he beforehand served as editor-in-chief of Weverse Journal, printed by HYBE’s international fan platform, Weverse.

HYBE’s inner report on Ok-pop trade tendencies Picture: Courtesy of Rep. Min Hyung-bae’s workplace by way of The Korea Herald

Kang, 47, who was faraway from his position on Oct. 29 after the doc drew nationwide criticism, is understood amongst music critics as probably the most prolific and well-respected columnists on Ok-pop idol teams. He beforehand labored as a journalist masking early tales of legendary Ok-pop acts equivalent to Search engine optimization Taiji and Boys and H.O.T.

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Early on, Kang even anticipated the aggressive dynamics between JYP Leisure, YG Leisure, and SM Leisure.

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He additionally co-authored “Past the Story: 10-Yr Report of BTS,” an official BTS memoir printed in July 2023, which debuted at No. 1 on The New York Instances’ Finest Sellers record within the nonfiction class.

It speaks volumes about his standing inside HYBE that Kang was allowed to interview all seven BTS members and co-author their joint memoir, as such a major activity would seemingly be entrusted solely to somebody deeply trusted by Bang.

“Kang has an in depth relationship with Chairman Bang, and so they usually focus on firm operations and idol manufacturing issues. Rumor has it that Kang and Bang even deliberate ILLIT’s idea collectively,” a supply informed The Korea Herald, on situation of anonymity.

HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk. Picture: Courtesy of HYBE

It stays unclear whether or not Bang straight instructed Kang to draft the doc, however studies point out the doc was shared with Bang and HYBE’s high executives. Through the audit, its chief working officer Kim Tae-ho defined that the doc was meant to observe public opinion surrounding Hybe artists and the broader Ok-pop trade.

Nevertheless, former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin recommended throughout a reside interview with a YouTuber on Tuesday that the doc might have been meant to assist executives with restricted trade expertise acquire perception into the Ok-pop scene. She criticized the report, noting that it might foster misconceptions concerning the trade amongst readers.

Kang has been reassigned to the human sources crew at HYBE.