HYBE is under fire for their measures behind BTS Jin’s free hug event.
As reported, HYBE announced that they will change the criteria for album-purchasing fans to receive an opportunity to participate in Jin’s free hug event at the upcoming ‘2024 Festa.’ In HYBE’s latest update, the criteria will now include fans who have already purchased albums through Weverse Shop prior to the free hug event announcement.
However, fans remain furious at the company for maintaining the requirement that Jin hug a thousand people, not clarifying changes to the raffle style, and failing to consider these details initially.
Fans are accusing HYBE of “wordplay,” arguing that the company hasn’t changed the requirement that more album purchases mean more chances to win. They demand the raffle entry limit be changed to one entry per person, regardless of the number of albums purchased.
Concerns also center around the safety of the event, with fans worried that Jin hugging a thousand people could expose him to “potential dangers from strangers who might not even be fans.” Many are calling for a shift to a more exclusive fan meeting or a gift-giving event for the thousand fans who purchased albums.
Overall, netizens are disappointed with HYBE for mismanaging large-scale events with “unclear official statements” and “failing to protect their artists.”
Reactions include:
“Wouldn’t Jin get sick by hugging a thousand people in such close proximity??”
“The condition where you need to buy more albums hasn’t changed. Is this some kind of wordplay?”
“Reduce the number of people to around 100-300 and prepare well so that neither the artists nor the fans get hurt and everything can be safely concluded.”
“Change the raffle entry limit to 1 time per person, definitely.”
“Also reduce the number of people. How can Jin manage 1,000 people?”
“We don’t know how these new standards will turn out either. Even if HYBE says this, there will be anxious fans who will buy more albums just to make sure they get into the event.”
“If it’s about simply lining up fans to include the ones who already purchased the albums, it doesn’t seem like much has changed.”
“Can all 1,000 people even get a hug? It would be better to just give them each a gift.”
“With 1,000 people, it should be a high-touch event, not a hug event, lol.”
“It feels like they’re subtly playing with words.”
“Isn’t it too dangerous to have 1,000 people hugging? Just do a high-touch event.. Can you guarantee there won’t be a single weird person among that 1,000?”
Meanwhile, Jin’s free hug event is scheduled for June 13.
What are your thoughts?
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