Fans of the girl groups LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT staged a truck protest on November 20 in front of HYBE’s headquarters in Seoul, voicing strong opposition to the return of NewJeans under the label ADOR. The protest comes amid ongoing controversy over NewJeans’ comeback and their relationship with the company.
On the truck’s display board, messages read: “We cannot remain silent against organised malicious comments”, “HYBE and Belift Lab must restore protection for ILLIT”, and “Face the damage and act to protect mental and physical health.”
LE SSERAFIM’s fandom also raised their voices, criticising their agency Source Music for staying silent in the face of alleged workplace harassment. They questioned whether Source Music could genuinely protect LE SSERAFIM, asking: “Can you protect LE SSERAFIM who work sincerely?”
The protest highlighted slogans such as “Just being near HYBE means depression?” and “The one truly trembling in pain is LE SSERAFIM and FEARNOT (LE SSERAFIM’s fandom).”
Attendees firmly rejected any “forced apology or reconciliation.” They declared: “We will not share any authority with the group that maliciously targeted LE SSERAFIM.”
The dispute stems from delayed announcements of negotiations between HYBE, ADOR and NewJeans’ members over their comeback. Fan communities are divided: some oppose NewJeans’ return entirely or call for completely separate activities.
Additionally, a separate truck protest was held by domestic LE SSERAFIM fans in front of HYBE’s building, where they criticised NewJeans’ members.
HYBE affiliates issued statements regarding malicious comments. Belift Lab stated on November 14 that although some members are minors, the agency will strengthen monitoring and respond firmly to malicious posts targeting artists. Source Music likewise announced legal action, citing a surge in malicious posts directed at LE SSERAFIM.
The situation raises questions about how HYBE will address the deep-rooted tensions between fan communities and the internal dynamics of its labels — and whether they’ll be able to facilitate coexistence under the same corporate roof.
Sources: naver
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