“We are not your items.”
Ito ang pahayag ng SEVENTEEN member na si Seungkwan makaraang mag-speak up siya patungkol sa treatment sa mga K-pop idols.
Ito ay matapos ma-reveal sa National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit na mayroon umanong weekly “music industry report” ang entertainment company na HYBE.
Nilalaman umano ng 18,000 pages music industry report ang mga comments patungkol sa looks, skills, at unverified rumors sa mga K-pop artists sa ilalim ng HYBE, SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, YG Entertainment, at iba pang talent agencies.
Sa lengthy Instagram post ni Seungkwan kahapon, October 29, sinabi niya na hindi umano “items” ang mga K-pop idols.
“I don’t want to see people hurting each other anymore. […] I feel that I can no longer stay silent for all my colleagues who are working hard even at this moment, my fans, my members, my people who are getting hurt,” saad ng K-pop idol.
“[…] Being a celebrity is a job I chose, and while there are parts I must endure because I receive a lot of love, I don’t think it is a job where we have to endure to the point of self-destruction, getting hurt until the brink of death,” pahayag niya.
“What I want to convey clearly is that we are not people who have been working so easily and smoothly that we can be judged lightly. We have experienced enough pain, fallen apart, and somehow overcome it, putting in tenacious effort to show our best on stage for our fans. I hope people don’t take idols lightly,” pagpapatuloy nito.
“You don’t have the right to easily intrude on our narrative. Not just us, but other artists as well, we are not your items. I hope you don’t think you can use and enjoy us as you please,” dagdag pa niya.
Kasabay nito, nanawagan din si Seungkwan sa maayos na treatment para sa mga K-pop artists.
“I really don’t want to see anyone breaking down and eventually giving up. I sincerely hope we stop giving wounds we can’t take responsibility for. I don’t want to see my members, all my colleagues who are working hard right now, the staff who have sincerely worked for us, and our fans getting hurt anymore,” wika niya.
“To the fans who are loving us warmly even at this moment, I want to say I’m sorry and I love you,” pahayag pa ni Seungkwan.
Samantala, ayon sa isang ulat ng Korean media outlet na Soompi, nag-release ng statement ang CEO ng HYBE na si Lee Jae Sang matapos mag-leak online ang nasabing document.
“I deeply apologize to the artists, industry stakeholders, and fans,” wika nito.
“The document contained provocative and explicit expressions directed at K-pop artists, included personal opinions and evaluations of the author, and was preserved in written form. As the representative of the company, I acknowledge all the mistakes and take full responsibility. I am particularly sorry and distressed about the unfounded suspicions of reverse viral marketing that are not true at all, causing misunderstandings and harm to innocent artists and individuals,” pahayag pa niya.
Humingi rin ng paumanhin ang HYBE CEO sa mga external at internal artists na nabanggit sa nasabing documents.
“I formally and respectfully apologize to the external artists mentioned in the document who have suffered damage and distress. We are also reaching out to each agency individually to offer our apologies directly,” saad nito.
“Additionally, I am also sincerely extending an official apology to all the artists of HYBE Music Group who have been subjected to criticism due to the company,” wika pa niya.
