Jeongguk Sparks Attention with Consecutive Posts on Pet Dog SNS
Agency States "Intention Is Not to Use Young Artist as a Shield"
Group BTS member Jungkook has sparked attention by leaving a supportive message for junior group NewJeans. Amid differing opinions on the meaning of the sentence and its intended recipient, the agency Big Hit Music promptly issued a statement.
On the 14th, Jungkook posted on his pet dog's Instagram account a photo of his dog 'Jeonbam' along with the phrase "Artists are not guilty."
Additionally, Jungkook added heart emojis in blue, pink, yellow, green, and purple colors, along with a flexed bicep emoji. These colors were symbolic hues used for each NewJeans member when collaborating with the American animation 'The Powerpuff Girls' to create individual collaboration characters.
Accordingly, some interpreted Jungkook's message as an indirect show of support for NewJeans.
About four hours later, Jungkook posted on the same account the phrase "Don’t use them."
There are various interpretations regarding to whom Jungkook's message was directed. Some view it as Jungkook criticizing HYBE, which NewJeans had expressed grievances against, while others analyze that Jungkook himself suspects former Min Hee-jin of using NewJeans members as a front and aimed the message at her.
Big Hit Music, Jungkook's agency, explained the post by saying, "It was confirmed that the message was posted with the thought that under no circumstances should young artists be dragged into disputes and used as shields."
Group 'BTS' Jungkook made a statement that seemed to indirectly support the group 'NewJeans'. [Photo by Jungkook's pet Instagram]
On the 11th, NewJeans members delivered a pointed criticism of HYBE during a live broadcast on their YouTube channel and simultaneously demanded that former ADORE CEO Min Hee-jin return by the 25th to the chairperson. Earlier, the ADORE board dismissed Min on the 27th of last month and appointed Kim Ju-young, HYBE's Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), as the new CEO of ADORE.
At the HYBE extraordinary shareholders' meeting held on the 12th, newly appointed HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang responded to the recent NewJeans incident by stating, "We will respond calmly according to principles."
On the 13th, the law firm Sejong, representing former CEO Min, announced, "On this day, former CEO Min Hee-jin filed an injunction with the Seoul Central District Court to convene an extraordinary shareholders' meeting of ADORE and to reappoint ADORE's inside director."
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