HYBE Under Fire for Neglecting K-Pop Group Fromis_9

The K-pop group fromis_9 is said to be receiving unfair treatment, sparking a controversy over neglect by HYBE.

On May 7, fromis_9 member Lee Chae Young mentioned her regret about their inactivity during a live broadcast, saying ” Why can’t we be active for so long? Just us? Only fromis_9? It’s so sad.”

She continued, “I have flovers (fromis_9 fandom) too. I have fans. We have flovers too,” expressing her sadness with a bitter smile.

Lee Chaeyoung’s comments have been a hot topic in online communities since the next day, May 8.

Viewers online sympathized with Lee Chae Young’s comments and expressed their sadness.

Fromis_9, who released their previous album after a hiatus of almost a year, has not been active as a full group for nearly a year since the release of their first full-length album Unlock My World in June last year.

Fromis_9 previously raised their stock value with active promotions under Stone Music Entertainment and Off The Record Entertainment. However, after Pledis Entertainment, a label of HYBE, took over all rights to Fromis_9 in the second half of 2021, the group’s hiatus was extended, leading to the neglect controversy. Meanwhile, with the recent highlighting of HYBE’s multi-label issue, there has been a controversy over differential promotion and activity for NewJeans under ADOR.