One of the busiest streets in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, was shut down after HYBE secured the location for an event (BTS's comeback). It's absolutely reasonable to celebrate a group's comeback, many, if not all, artists do, so this is not directed at the artists. Rather, the concerns lie with HYBE's planning and management of the event, particularly given the level of disruption and the extent to which ordinary citizens' rights were compromised.
1. Citizens were forced to take annual leave, which violates South Korea's labour laws.
2. Over 800 firefighters and around 100 fire trucks were deployed by the government, even as a nearby fire resulted in fatalities and missing individuals.
3. Despite an expected turnout of 250,000, actual attendance was only around 40,000–42,000. Of those present, approximately 15,000 were police and safety personnel, with another 6,700 being staff.
4. Police officers were required to work beyond their regular hours to support the event.
5. Vendors were made to prepare for over 250,000 people, but with significantly lower attendance, many suffered substantial financial losses.
6. Ordinary citizens were required to undergo full-body security checks just to cross the street.
7. Weddings planned months in advance were delayed, with some affected parties considering legal action.
8. Buses were rerouted, operating without stop.
9. Parcel deliveries were halted across parts of Jongno-gu from March 20–21.
10. Lockers in 17 subway stations were closed.
11. Museums and art galleries near Gwanghwamun were shut.
12. Approximately 38 million won in taxpayer funds was allocated for waste disposal costs.
I'm not sure what was going through Bang Si-hyuk's hollow skull when he decided to hold it in a location that significantly disrupts the lives of ordinary citizens and violates their basic rights.
(Fanwars aside) but this is seriously heartbreaking. They expected 250k, most establishment increase their inventory, only for it to not sell. Most are perishables.
The foot traffic is also below normal day, as roads closed.
I hope at least the govt can compensate their losses.
Talking about Jungkook when they were working in LA shortly after being back from the military
🐨: There was a time when few of the guys weren't there. Jin hyung wasn't there, hobi wasn't there too. It was just me, Jimin and Jungkook.
🐱: I was there too.
🐨: Right you were there too. Back then Jungkook did nothing in the first few days, he would just be in the room, all shy and we were like "Jungkook-ah come on sing a bit, these guys will love to listen to you"
🐥: When we were working on songs right? 😂
🐰: Right! It was coz I was embarrassed😅
[NEWS] Hello. This is BIGHIT MUSIC. We would like to provide an update on BTS member RM’s participation in “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG,” scheduled for March 21. During a performance rehearsal on March 19, RM suffered an ankle injury and was taken to a hospital to undergo a detailed examination and treatment. A medical diagnosis confirmed a sprain of the accessory navicular, a partial ligament tear, and a talus contusion (which includes ligament damage and inflammation). As advised by medical professionals, he must wear a cast and strictly limit movement for a minimum of two weeks to concentrate solely on his recovery. While RM expressed a firm commitment to deliver a high-quality performance at this symbolic comeback stage at Gwanghwamun, the company, in close consultation with the artist, has made the decision to prioritize the medical opinion to preemptively prevent any further strain on his injury. Accordingly, RM’s on-stage performance, including choreography, will be partially limited. We ask for your kind understanding regarding this matter. We sincerely apologize for any disappointment this may cause, given the high anticipation surrounding this performance. Although RM’s on-stage performance will inevitably be limited, he will do his best to participate on stage and engage with ARMY and the audience. We know you have waited a long time for this performance, and we will put our utmost effort into delivering a heartfelt show. We prioritize our artists’ health and safety above all else, and are committed to providing RM with all the necessary support for his complete recovery and return to full health. The BTS members are preparing diligently for this performance. We ask for your continued encouragement and support. Thank you.
Donation success! ⭐️ We were able to share donuts with homeless individuals, children, guards, and soldiers. Thank you so much to everyone who helped and donated! 💙
Happy 7th anniversary to TXT and happy birthday to Beomgyu!!
(PICTURES WERE TAKEN WITH CONSENT)
HYBE's Bang Si-hyuk accused of illicit trading, moving ₩12B in crypto transfer, and using BTS as collateral in new whistleblower report https://t.co/nD4OymHqRx
#방시혁#하이브#HYBE#BTS#방탄소년단#기자회견#홍석종#김준범#김중동