On January 5, Weverse Company CEO Choi Jun Won released an official statement addressing the data breach, saying the incident should be viewed not merely as an individual employee’s misconduct but as a serious failure in the company’s internal management. He apologized for the distress caused to users and acknowledged the company’s responsibility in the matter.
According to Choi, an employee identified as “A” shared the personal information of a fan who had applied for a fan-signing event in a group chat with acquaintances. While the CEO confirmed that the data was improperly disclosed, he clarified that there was no manipulation of event results or winner selection.
Choi further revealed that the employee involved had been referred to the company’s disciplinary committee and reported to the authorities on charges related to breach of duty and obstruction of business. Legal action has already been initiated against the individual.
In addition, the CEO outlined steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. Emphasizing that the issue should not be treated as the fault of a single staff member, he said the company would swiftly address weaknesses in its fan event processes. Planned measures include tighter access controls for fan event systems, stronger supervision at each event stage, and enhanced training on personal data protection standards for all employees.
The controversy surfaced after online communities and social media circulated screenshots of conversations allegedly between the Weverse employee and acquaintances. The messages reportedly contained sensitive information such as the identity of a specific event winner, the number of albums purchased, and details related to fan-signing event confirmations.
After the employee was identified as a Weverse staff member, the company reportedly contacted the affected user directly to admit that their personal data had been leaked by an employee responsible for fan events and issued an apology.
Weverse is a major global fan platform hosting artists not only from HYBE, such as BTS and SEVENTEEN, but also from other agencies, including BLACKPINK, EXO, and NCT. Fans use the platform to communicate closely with artists, attend concerts, and purchase official merchandise, making trust and data security a critical concern for its global user base.
Sources: Daum
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