ARMYs Slam MBC For Claiming SEVENTEEN “Built Up” HYBE’s Headquarters

A recent clip from an MBC show that claimed HYBE was built by SEVENTEEN has garnered intense backlash from ARMYs on social media.

On April 20, KST, MBC posted a teaser for the upcoming episode of Hangout With Yoo. The teaser showed the MC Yoo Jae Suk, accompanied by other co-MCs, visiting the HYBE building to meet the members of BSS, a subunit of the boy group SEVENTEEN.

240420 놀면 뭐하니#세븐틴 #부석순 하이브 구내 식당 편 예고 pic.twitter.com/E8iwrYW6qv

— 로즈베이 (@the_rosebay) April 20, 2024

In the teaser, the show’s cast was seen admiring the luxurious interiors of the HYBE headquarters in Seoul. A caption on the screen read, “The HYBE headquarters built up by SEVENTEEN.”

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 내가 지금 헛 걸 보고 있나???? 누가 뭘 쌓아요???? pic.twitter.com/dy0lyC0Y0M

— (@koala613912) April 20, 2024

The image spread on social media like wildfire as ARMYs were left enraged at the claim. Many voiced their dissatisfaction with MBC for allegedly disrespecting BTS’s legacy with such a caption.

"hybe's new building that Seventeen built up" aren't you ashamed to spit on BTS's legacy like that??? @MBC_entertain https://t.co/jOtvpcL0gA

— ⁷ (@jimindpity_) April 20, 2024

but whose name and whose murals were on that hybe building? be fr rn https://t.co/0u7EjCH2kp pic.twitter.com/8vhfsPr34U

— 키라님⁷ (@jiminandme) April 20, 2024

hybe before BTS hybe after BTS https://t.co/iEulLIe16K pic.twitter.com/4Afb5HvfR3

— 렐라 Ⓥ (@rella_kth) April 20, 2024

BTS BUILT THAT FROM THE GROUND UP DONT PLAAYYYYY https://t.co/jDDmTCAodD

— lexi (@idgafduo) April 20, 2024

BTS, who practically pulled their label BIGHIT MUSIC (previously Big Hit Entertainment) from the brink of bankruptcy with years of hard work and boundary-breaking success, were also the reason why BIGHIT evolved into a multi-label corporation called HYBE in 2021. It was only after HYBE came into being that artists like SEVENTEEN, GFRIEND, Zico, and so on were brought under the umbrella of the corporation, as HYBE acquired the respective labels of these artists.

So, in that context, claiming that SEVENTEEN built the HYBE building would be inaccurate despite them being a very prominent source of the label’s income in recent years. That claim, however, was not the full caption. MBC seems to have credited BTS as the foundation of HYBE,  while implying that SEVENTEEN was able to add to the company’s growth, as seen in the full clip.

[Video could not be displayed]

BTS laid the foundation of the new HYBE headquarters, and SEVENTEEN built it up

— MBC caption

Some fans who did notice the entire caption still felt that it erased BTS’s contribution to HYBE’s growth.

다진것도 쌓아 올린것도 방탄인데?
무슨 소리야? 방송국만 모르네 pic.twitter.com/lNWK6qdlHo

— 욜마cgV (@1230cgV0613) April 20, 2024

But BTS did both the foundation laying and the building? What are they saying? The broadcasting station seems to be the only one unaware of it.

— @1230cgV0613/Twitter

영상으로 봐도 어이없음
역사왜곡 미쳤음ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ https://t.co/KMiv4GnM00 pic.twitter.com/gOO5frBaDb

— (@koala613912) April 20, 2024

It makes no sense even if you watch the video. The distortion of history is crazy, LOOOL.

— @koala613912/Twitter

The backlash has nonetheless continued on social media, with ARMYs trending tags asking MBC for an apology.

HYBE was Bighit, a label who was on the verge of bankruptcy. Without the hard work & contribution of BTS, HYBE would have NEVER existed. HYBE was built by BTS alone to the giant conglomerate that they are today.

DO NOT ERASE HISTORY. RESPECT & APOLOGIZE TO BTS. @MBC_entertain pic.twitter.com/k8auwAfOZM

— ARMY Connect | FRI(END)S | HOTS (@Army_Connect) April 20, 2024

BTS MADE HYBE
BTS PAVED THE WAY
K MEDIA APOLOGIZE TO BTS #MBC놀면뭐하니_사과촉구 @MBC_entertain pic.twitter.com/Pdyr8I7qRJ

— V ChartsFRI(END)S (@BTSVChartData) April 20, 2024

BTS PAVED THE WAY is trending at #1 Worldwide!

BTS MADE HYBE
K MEDIA APOLOGIZE TO BTS #MBC놀면뭐하니_사과촉구 @MBC_entertain pic.twitter.com/3bnkseLIy9

— V ChartsFRI(END)S (@BTSVChartData) April 20, 2024

Neither HYBE nor MBC have made any comments as of yet.