Nagpahayag ng sentimyento ang SEVENTEEN member na si Seungkwan hinggil sa maling pagtrato sa kapwa niya K-pop idols.
Ito ay kaugnay ng kontrobersiyang kinasasangkutan ng HYBE Corporation, ang kilalang talent agency ng mga tanyag na K-pop groups gaya ng BTS, TXT, at Enhypen.
Nahaharap ngayon sa katakut-takot na batikos ang HYBE matapos lumabas at kumalat ang kanilang internal report na naglalaman ng mga dokumento ukol sa panlalait at pangmamaliit nila sa K-pop stars at groups mula sa mga katunggali nilang talent agencies gaya ng SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, at YG Entertainment.
Read: SEVENTEEN's Seungkwan pens emotional letter to late friend ASTRO's Moonbin
Noong October 24, 2024, nabunyag ang pinakatatagong dokumento ng HYBE nang kuwestiyunin ng National Assembly’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee audit ang weekly music industry report ng higanteng ahensya.
Napag-alamang sa halos 18,000-page document na inilatag ng HYBE sa kanilang executives, naglalaman ito ng "malicious comments on looks and skills, unverified rumors, and more" ng mga K-pop artist ng iba't ibang talent agencies.
Kabilang sa nabanggit sa dokumento ang pangalan ng mga sikat na grupong aespa, Stray Kids, NCT Dream, IVE, (G) I-DLE, at New Jeans.
Read: MAMA 2023: BTS members, SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, New Jeans, IVE lead nominees
SEVENTEEN's Seungkwan SPEAKS UP
Sa pamamagitan ng pagpu-post sa Instagram nitong Martes, October 29, 2024, nagbigay ng kanyang saloobin si Seungkwan sa isyu.
Bagamat hindi niya direktang pinangalanan ang HYBE, mahihinuha sa kanyang post na ito ang kanyang pinatutungkulan.
Ayon kay Seungkwan, ayaw man niyang madawit sa kontrobersiya ay hindi niya maatim na manahimik na lang habang minamaliit at sinisiraan ang ibang kapwa niya K-pop idols, at ilang taong malapit sa kanya.
Mababasa sa kanyang post (ayon sa English translation ng Soompi.com): "I don’t want to see people hurting each other anymore.
"Watching everything that has happened so far, I kept my feelings in check, thinking that somehow it would all pass, and continued to work hard with the members as I always have.
"However, just watching these situations and hoping the fire will die down is no longer an option.
"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.
"This might seem like meddling to some and like a hasty post to others, but I am still mustering up courage."
Paliwanag pa ni Seungkwan, mahirap na ang trabaho nila bilang entertainers at celebrities kaya hindi naman tamang dagdagan pa ang bigat na kanilang nararamdaman sa pamamagitan ng pangmamalaiit, kahit wala naman silang ibang hangad kundi magbigay-saya at pag-asa sa kanilang fans.
Pahayag niya: "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.
"I just wanted to do my best and show responsibility for the given tasks, to repay the fans who love me, and to share the good energy I can give in various ways.
"So it is true that the burden, the pressure, and the physical and mental fatigue are indescribably immense.
"Even so, we must carry on at this moment. Some look at it rationally, some smile positively, and some, though it is difficult, adapt and somehow endure because we chose it and we have to endure it, but today, that reason feels particularly harsh and cruel.
"Just as some days are sunny and some are cloudy, today is very cloudy for me. I, too, have days when I try to overcome with positivity. I, too, have days when I try to smile no matter what. But today, that is not easy, and I feel sorry for those who are getting hurt at this moment. It also upsets me that I can’t embrace them all.
"I wonder if my hasty and clumsy words can resonate with someone, if they can be a comfort to anyone. Including our members, the colleagues and friends I know who are working hard in the big industry of K-pop are people who genuinely love this work purely.
"Because they are so sincere, they also get hurt, and because they love so much, they sometimes feel empty, but still, they live each day giving and receiving love for themselves, their members, their families, and their fans."
Read: SEVENTEEN’s Jeonghan, Jun to skip upcoming world tour
SEUNGKWAN hopes people will not take idols for granted
Diin pa ni Seungkwan, katulad ng iba, kailangan ding tratuhin nang tama ang mga kagaya niyang K-pop idol dahil may kanya-kanya rin silang dagok na patagong pinagdaraanan.
Saad ng 26-year-old singer: "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.
"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.
"All our physical energy is drained even just from one week of music show promotions. Despite also handling advertisements, events, performances, and other scheduled activities meanwhile, there are many colleagues these days who greet me warmly with a smile even more than I do. Whenever that happens, I smile and greet them back. This is all I can do for them."
Read: SEVENTEEN becomes first K-Pop group to fill up Philippine Arena
Sa huli, hiling at panawagan ni Seungkwan nawa'y matapos na ang isyu at mapanagot ang mga may gawa nito.
Dagdag pa niya, imbes na manghusga, lagi't laging piliing magbigay lakas at inspirasyon sa kapwa.
Saad niya, "I hope we can all be a little warmer. Watching with warmth, supporting, and loving, if we treat each other warmly, maybe things might get a little better. 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. To the fans who are loving us warmly even at this moment, I want to say I’m sorry and I love you."
HYBE CEO ISSUES PUBLIC APOLOGY
Samantala, sa gitna ng kontrobersiya ay humingi ng paumanhin sa publiko ang HYBE CEO na si Lee Jae Sang.
Sa inilabas niyang public apology nitong October 29, humingi siya ng dispensa sa mga taong nadawit sa kumalat nilang internal report.
Bagamat inako niya ang kanilang pagkakamali, ipinaliwanag ni Lee Jae Sang na ang dokumentong kumalat ay parte lamang ng kanilang assesment at pag-aaral para sa kanilang mga talent.
Narito ang buo niyang pahayag (ayon sa English translation ng Soompi.com): "As the CEO of HYBE, I extend my sincere apologies regarding the HYBE monitoring document.
"Regarding our monitoring document that was highlighted during the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee audit on October 24, I deeply apologize to the artists, industry stakeholders, and fans.
"This document was created as part of a process to retrospectively gather various reactions and public opinions on industry trends and issues. Although it was intended to be shared only with a limited number of leaders to understand market and fan sentiments, the content was highly inappropriate.
"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.
"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. 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.
"I acknowledge the lack of awareness among the leadership who received the document and, as CEO, I have immediately halted the creation of such monitoring documents. I promise to establish guidelines and strengthen internal controls to prevent such issues from occurring again.
"Once again, I apologize to the artists, industry stakeholders, fans, and everyone who loves and supports K-pop for the pain caused by this incident. As the company’s representative, I commit to thorough reflection and self-examination to rectify past mistakes and prioritize the rights of all K-pop artists and respect for fans. We will do our utmost to contribute to the healthy development of the K-pop industry."