BTS, the globally renowned Kpop sensation, has recently been at the centre of controversy surrounding allegations of chart manipulation and illegal marketing. The controversy originated from a legal dispute involving BTS's agency, BIGHIT MUSIC, and an individual known as 'Mr. A', whose identity remains undisclosed. The controversy resurfaced with new details, leading to speculation and concern among fans and industry observers.

The core issue revolves around Mr. A's involvement in extortion and his claims regarding BTS and BIGHIT MUSIC. In August 2017, Mr. A faced legal consequences for extorting money by threatening to disclose information about alleged illegal marketing practices. The court ruled that Mr. A's actions were extortion, totalling 57 million won over eight instances. This raised questions about the nature of the marketing tactics employed by BIGHIT MUSIC and whether they crossed ethical boundaries.

BIGHIT MUSIC has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, stating that the marketing activities mentioned by Mr. A were standard online viral marketing strategies. The company clarified that Mr. A's claims were baseless and unsubstantiated, and they were merely victims of extortion. Despite BIGHIT MUSIC's assertions, the court revealed contradictory evidence, including the hacking of emails to obtain data on illegal marketing activities and the fabrication of a narrative by Mr. A regarding extortion with hacked marketing data concerning BTS.

The court's validation of certain aspects of Mr. A's claims, such as threats to unveil music chart manipulations and other activities associated with the group, has led to accusations of 'illegal marketing' and 'sajaegi marketing' against BIGHIT MUSIC. Sajaegi refers to the practice of artificially inflating sales figures to manipulate music charts, a practice that has been a concern in the K-pop industry.

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In response to the controversy, HYBE, the parent company of BIGHIT MUSIC, has announced its intention to pursue legal action against those spreading false information and defamatory claims. HYBE emphasized its commitment to protecting BTS's reputation and integrity, stating, "There have been multiple organized attempts recently to tarnish and slander BTS. We made our position clear in 2017 and maintain that stance.

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