K-pop mogul Bang Si-Hyuk, the mastermind behind global sensation BTS, has found himself at the centre of a brewing controversy. Photos showed him with a popular but controversial AfreecaTV BJ in Beverly Hills. The images, originally shared on a YouTube channel, quickly spread across Korean online forums.
Spotted in LA
On August 8 … A photo of Bang Si-Hyuk in America surfaced, showing him walking the streets of LA with two women. Netizens quickly recognized one of the women as Juice Seyeon, a well-known influencer with a reputation for provocative content.
The pairing of respected industry figure Bang Si-Hyuk with a personality known for explicit content … Has sparked widespread criticism and speculation.
The screenshot came from a video posted by the YouTube channel “I am WalKing.” The video, posted on August 7, featured highlights from July, captured in Beverly Hills, LA. Another photo shared online showed Bang Si-Hyuk taking pictures of the other BJ.
Bang Si-Hyuk’s New Purchase
In July, it was reported that Bang, the music industry powerhouse behind BTS, emerged as the buyer of Trevor Noah’s luxurious Bel-Air mansion. This news confirmed earlier rumours that a South Korean billionaire had acquired the property for an impressive USD26.4 million. Netizens speculated that Bang was in town to visit his latest purchase, conveniently located just 17 minutes by car from Beverly Hills.
HYBE Scrambles To Take Action
The photos of Bang Si-Hyuk with the AfreecaTV BJs spread rapidly on Korean forums, generating hundreds of comments. In response to the growing backlash, HYBE took swift action to remove the images from online platforms, citing concerns about Bang Si-Hyuk’s privacy. However, this move has only fueled further speculation and anger among netizens, with many accusing the company of attempting to suppress the story.
The following notice was posted on theqoo:
“We inform you that the publication has been taken down to comply with Article 44-2 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.
Title: Bang Si-Hyuk pictured with female BJs in the U.S.
Reason: Invasion of privacy of Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk
Requested by: HYBE
Discontinuation date: August 8, 2024 at 5:22 PM”
BIG HIT MUSIC also released a statement on the matter.
“He happened to meet the older one of the two at a gathering with acquaintances, and he gave her advise on how to deal with scammers related to the entertainment industry. Later, when both of them came to LA, they asked for recommendations on tourist spots and restaurants, so he made reservations and guided them.“ – BIG HIT MUSIC
Netizen Reaction
The incident has sparked heated discussions on social media, with many questioning the appropriateness of Bang Si-Hyuk’s association with such a controversial figure. Netizens were shocked at how swiftly HYBE acted to protect Bang Si-Hyuk’s privacy, especially in contrast to how they have handled other issues. Many referred to HYBE’s release of private KakaoTalk messages involving ADOR CEO Min Hee-Jin, questioning the company’s consistency in privacy matters.
Comments on Theqoo included:
- “You guys exposed Min Hee-Jin’s KakaoTalk messages left and right but have to take down this photo because it’s invasion of privacy?”
- “Just forget about this forum…”
- “What do you mean by invasion of privacy? After posting messages to Min Hee-Jin and her acquaintance everywhere,”
- “Stop stalking the online forum sites.”
- “It was already bad…but have you decided to become even worse?”
- “Wow so many articles about Suga and yet they take this one down.”
- “Wow first time to see a post on this forum get taken down.”
The incident has undoubtedly damaged Bang Si-Hyuk’s carefully cultivated public image and raised questions about HYBE’s corporate culture. As the story unfolds, how this controversy will impact the company and its artists remains to be seen.
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