HYBE subsidiary employee dismissal controversy: Inside the fan event manipulation scandal
A HYBE subsidiary employee was dismissed for manipulating fan event lists and misusing personal data on Weverse. Read about the leaked texts and the fallout.
Can fans still trust the system? A HYBE subsidiary employee was fired following a serious breach of ethics involving fan event operations and the mishandling of personal data.
The HYBE subsidiary employee dismissal controversy and leaked chats
According to Koreaboo, the controversy erupted on Friday, January 2, 2026, when leaked text conversations began circulating on social media. The messages revealed a Weverse employee inquiring about the possibility of checking applicant identities or intentionally excluding specific fans from event winner lists.
The unauthorized access to private fan information and the attempt to manipulate supposedly fair selection processes have sent shockwaves through the community. HYBE acted swiftly, announcing the individual's dismissal after confirming the misconduct. It is reported that the employee's actions violated both corporate policy and basic privacy standards.
Impact on global fandom trust
With tens of millions of users on the platform, the incident raises alarming questions about internal oversight. Fans are now demanding more transparency, fearing that personal bias or "blacklists" might be influencing who gets to meet their favorite idols.
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