OAKLAND: South Korean boy band Seventeen had fans chanting their name in Oakland, California, United States (US) last week as part of their “Right Here” world tour to promote the album 2024 by the group “17 Is Right Here”.
Ruby Webb, a 21-year-old fan from Portland, Oregon, said: “I’ve been a Seventeen fan for about six or seven years.
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“I love them so much. S Coups, Mingyu, Dino, they are my children,” she added.
While there is excitement, fans named Carats have spoken out about the recent controversy with South Korean company HYBE, which oversees several K-Pop artists, including popular groups BTS , Blackpink and Seventeen.
An internal document circulated among company executives, including HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, containing disparaging comments about some of the company’s K-pop groups has been approved by the Ministry of Culture. , Sports and Tourism of the Korean National Assembly revealed in the National Assembly’s audit on October 24. Committee.
The report was revealed by Korean pop culture critic Kang Myung Seok.
In the document, several K-pop groups, including Seventeen, were criticized for being “unattractive” and having “too much plastic surgery.”
This led to a series of other controversies in the industry.
K-pop star Hanni, a member of the group NewJeans, made a call in October for better treatment in the K-pop industry during a congressional hearing.
K-pop idols are often held to high standards of behavior and must maintain a clean public image, including pressure from fans to not have a partner.
The company’s criticism of Seventeen immediately sparked a backlash from Carats.
“I was almost disappointed,” said Laura Munoz, 29, who came from Kansas to attend the concert.
She added: “You support a group, and their own company ignores them and wants to protect them and be on their side.
For Webb, however, it’s important to focus on the music rather than the controversy.
“I’m just trying to focus on the members and not a big corporation,” she said.
Eden Johnson, 22, who attended the concert with Webb dressed as a carrot, felt optimistic about her first Seventeen concert.
“I just love being able to go to a concert where they can have fun,” she added.
Seventeen member Seungkwan posted a response to the doc on Instagram in October, days after it was released.
“You have no right to easily interfere with our story,” he wrote in Korean.
“This applies not only to us but also to other artists. We are not your goods for you to use and enjoy as you wish,” he added.
The Korean group had the best-selling album globally last year.
Lee Jaesang, CEO of HYBE, issued an apology statement from the South Korean company that was shared with Reuters.
“I officially apologize to all outside artists mentioned in the document,” Jaesang wrote in Korean.
“I am also contacting each record label directly to apologize and meeting with all HYBE artists, who are currently facing criticism for their own actions,” he added.
Fans in Oakland arrived dressed in both carats and carrots, carrying posters of their favorite band members and handing out free handmade goods to other fans.
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The US leg of the tour began in Illinois in October and ended in Los Angeles last Saturday, and the group will head to their Asia tour next.