HYBE Labels under fire for alleged inappropriate body search conducted during fansign event

Controversy over inappropriate body search of fans during a fansign event held by HYBE Labels is creating buzz online.

On July 8, the Japanese boy group &TEAM, affiliated with HYBE Labels Japan, held a fansign event in South Korea. However, following the event, a participant took to an online community to share their unsettling experience during the event.

In a post titled "HYBE did an underwear search during fansign event" the author described how a staff member at the event conducted a body search that included searching their underwear. The staff justified their actions as precautionary measures to detect any hidden recording devices, such as smartwatches or electronic devices.

However, instead of conducting a routine body search, it was reported that the staff member touched the participant's chest and inquired about the presence of a watch. Subsequently, they were taken to a private area where they were asked to lift their clothing and have their underwear inspected. The participant expressed their profound embarrassment and a sense of having their human rights violated.

Since the post was published, it has gained significant attention, becoming a trending topic on Twitter in South Korea. As of now, HYBE Labels has not issued any response regarding this incident.

Edit: Weverse Shop, the organizer of this said fansign event, released a statement of apology. Read more here.