With BTS’s Jin scheduled to be discharged from the military soon, BIGHIT MUSIC dropped a notice informing fans about the activities planned for his comeback.
Jin, who will be officially discharged on June 12, 2024, will host an in-person fanmeeting to celebrate the 2024 FESTA, BTS’s debut anniversary. He will also greet fans through a live stream, but it will be only accessible to those who have purchased the Weverse membership.
The latter activity has caused a huge uproar among ARMYs, as it is unprecedented for BTS to ever hold a livestream behind a paywall. Fans are disheartened to see that HYBE went down the same path as many other K-Pop companies, which monetize every aspect of idol-fan interaction to maximize profit. Many also pointed out that, from previous instances, this decision seems to go against Jin’s values.
“i know my nini wasn’t the one who decided to close the events to membership only”
— nina⁷ 🏴☠️ (@niyoonkook) June 1, 2024
Jin wasn’t even okay with the price of his artist made merch, I know he wouldn’t be okay with his return being behind a paywall. Hybe is not listening to the boys or armys anymore. This should worry EVERYONE.
— ryan⁷ 🍌 (@yoongiswrist) June 1, 2024
Damn we used to call out other companies for having paid lives and membership content and now hybe is doing the same thing we were so against. It’s sad to see our space become exactly what we were so proud of not being. https://t.co/zrZGXNI5Ye
— nae (@naeyoonfie) June 1, 2024
jin: i want to spend meaningful time with ARMY after coming back from enlistment
hybe: ah, you want to spend time with paying ARMYs, right?
jin: that’s not-
hybe: perfect, let’s do a membership only meeting, it’ll be amazing
jin: wait-
hybe: you’re brilliant jin!!! *walks away* https://t.co/xb3nmTbbF1
— reena 🍉🇧🇷 (@7dayswithjin) June 1, 2024
We used to laugh at other labels, making fans pay for the slightest interactions with their fans. But seems like HYBE also has that in mind. Soon, “Don’t catch a cold” messages from Jimin and birthday photo dumps from Hobi will also be behind paywalls.
— def not kens⁷ (@minimoniam) June 1, 2024
if this doesnt make u hate hybe SO much fucking more ur not understanding how ridiculous and appalling this is. his first official event back is a paid thing??? is this for fucking real??? how did they rationalize this??? money-hungry capitalist fuckers. https://t.co/RjBxzFClrh
— a⁷ 🍉 (@stillwithjin) June 1, 2024
Though some feel that it was a necessary step on HYBE’s part to “protect” Jin from fans who might post comments about the ongoing boycott or relay their messages in support of Palestine, others have pointed out that even then the optics are going to work against the BTS member.
i need some people to watch their mouths talking about jin bcz saying that it’s good that his first live meeting us is behind a paywall to protect him from people saying “free Palestine” isn’t something any sane person would say about their artist like u seriously need to stfu
— Rach⁷🍉semi ia (@UrEyesTelll) June 1, 2024
and for all of the dummies saying that we’d “harass” jin if it wasn’t behind a paywall, tell me something- how would we harass him through a screen? lmao like please make that shit make sense. there’s no reason why that stream should be behind a paywall
— ☾ vmin’s peach ೀ ⁷ | 🍉 (@fairydustvmin) June 1, 2024
“hybe protecting jin from boycotters” is making me really fucking mad. ur telling me the 1000s of weird& disgusting comments bts have been getting in their lives the last 2 yrs didnt get hybe to move, but a “free palestine” comment is enough to change their entire event strategy?
— a⁷ 🍉 (@stillwithjin) June 1, 2024
Some even theorized that this over-monetization was a direct result of HYBE losing its net profits to the huge financial losses incurred by its subsidiaries during the time BTS was inactive. According to the report released by the corporation itself, during the first quarter of 2024, subsidiaries like HYBE America, HYBE x UMG, Weverse, And HYBE IM incurred over ₩5.00 billion KRW (about $3.67 million USD) each in losses.
HYBE is doing this because Scooter Braun is wiping out the revenue generated by their biggest groups alone. Whatever BTS and TXT generates, he takes them an extra step back just in case.
— def not kens⁷ (@minimoniam) June 1, 2024
i’m not surprised about the jin thing being a paid membership thing and i won’t be surprised if they keep making paid content either. they’re trying to make up the money they lost while they were gone and they will overwork anyone and everyone until full ot7 bts is back.
— snow IS SEEING ARTMS (@haobintheworld) June 1, 2024
jin’s not even back yet and hybe’s already trying to make as much money off of him as possible https://t.co/XK5zUCA2gl
— jules⁷ (@aggravatingnugg) June 1, 2024
Overall, there is a huge voice criticizing this move from every part of the fanbase, regardless of where they stand in terms of the current boycott and other issues. The majority opinion appears to be that HYBE is abandoning its old ways to maximize profits off of BTS.
hybe putting jin’s first live back behind a paywall is so fucked up and i hope yall realize through this that hybe doesn’t care about yall. they’re greedy and won’t stop being greedy unless they’re shown that their actions have consequences from the fans.
— erin⁷ (@knjfiltr) June 1, 2024
If they haven’t noticed the way hybe has steadily grown more money grabbing & greedy idk what to say. The expensive merch that even made bts members raise an eyebrow, the constant memberships, the uninspired boring ugly overpriced goods. It’s been getting worse past 4 years https://t.co/oXGf3CdMGZ
— 📺 (@itboypercy) June 1, 2024
“Hybe always see Army as cash cow , it’s reality they are greedy they need money to give payola to all hybe group after all https://t.co/ngANkpzxbG”
— Scala🧋FRI(END)Sⓥ🧇🥐🍙 (@SmileBrightV) June 1, 2024
no but Hybe is really sick for this. Putting Jin’s first appearance back from 🪖 behind a paywall is crazy. Everything aside, scooter aside, boycott aside, Hybe is getting greedier and greedier. YTC Busan’s concert stream was free, the 10 year anniversary was free but this isn’t?
— ᴮᴱc⁷☆ waiting for bts⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆ (@sunshinehope613) June 1, 2024
Paying for festa is one thing, let’s not act like putting the very first interaction with Jin behind a paywall isn’t a calculated move. https://t.co/DUPzOzJjmV
— def not kens⁷ (@minimoniam) June 1, 2024
no cause his first official event is going to be behind a paywall, does that not infuriate anyone? like they know how much his return is highly anticipated and ofc they’re going to make it a paid event. it’s fucking despicable and tbh with the way that company is going, more and… https://t.co/Z52sf1xtU4
— ☾ vmin’s peach ೀ ⁷ | 🍉 (@fairydustvmin) June 1, 2024
