Celebrity

Former BIGHIT Director Exposes HYBE and Defends BTS Amid Financial Scandal

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In the wake of growing scrutiny surrounding HYBE, a former BIGHIT Music director has stepped forward with a powerful and emotional account of her time at the company—pointing fingers at corporate greed while expressing staunch support for BTS.

On June 7 (KST), Elly Chae Eun, a former Communications Director at BIGHIT, made headlines after a viral forum post surfaced containing her candid reflections posted on Threads. In the post, Chae Eun revealed that she was effectively forced out of the company in 2017 and criticized the toxic work culture that demanded extreme sacrifices from employees.

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“I used to sleep with my phone by my side all the time,” she wrote, describing the grueling work hours and emotional toll she endured. “I lost 7kg and even experienced hair loss. I devoted myself to the company, looking after its male idols instead of my own children.”

Despite her dedication, she claims she was dismissed for not fitting the company’s preferences. Her post goes on to lambast what she described as HYBE‘s morally bankrupt decisions—handing out massive funds to new insiders who contributed little to the company’s formative struggles.

In a pointed yet respectful gesture, she cleared BTS of any wrongdoing, stating, “I sincerely congratulated the BTS members. They truly deserved it—those seven were the beginning of HYBE.”

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She emphasized that the real issue lies with executives who allegedly used company resources for personal luxury while enriching themselves through insider stock deals.

Her revelations follow a wider investigation by Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service into HYBE and its founder Bang Si-hyuk, suspected of manipulating investor behavior. Bang is under investigation for alleged behind-the-scenes dealings involving a private equity fund.

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One article shared by Chae Eun referenced HYBE‘s IPO and the staggering payouts involved. Reportedly, three executives took home about 200 billion KRW each, with Chairman Bang personally receiving nearly 400 billion KRW in cash from various sources, including Eastone PE.

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“They are the real evil ones,” Chae Eun wrote. “I will fight to the end—quietly, according to the law.”

Chae Eun’s post has reignited debates about the ethics of Korea’s entertainment conglomerates and how they treat their employees, especially those behind the scenes. It also underscores the ongoing tension between financial success and corporate responsibility in the fast-growing K-pop industry.

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This exposé offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of one of the world’s most influential entertainment companies—and the voices that were silenced along the way.

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