After ILLIT, LE SSERAFIM; NewJeans fans launch hate train against ENHYPEN? Engenes step in to defend their favourites

Since the Min Hee Jin vs HYBE issue began, the backlash against all HYBE groups appears to have intensified. In recent months, not just antis but also K-pop stans from other agencies have seized this moment to downplay the accomplishments of HYBE groups. Leading the charge are NewJeans fans, who have expressed their disdain for HYBE and its artists since they believe the agency is the reason behind all the issues their favourites face. They initially targeted ILLIT, but the focus has since shifted to LE SSERAFIM and now ENHYPEN.

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Recently, some pages from the "Music Industry Weekly Trend Report," created by HYBE Labels to brief company executives, were publicized during the ongoing parliamentary audit of the South Korean National Assembly on October 24. A blurry photo of HYBE's album sales push in Japan was revealed, showing LE SSERAFIM and ENHYPEN with a large album push, despite actual sales figures being much lower than the numbers reported. This led to speculation that plans were made without proper follow-through. This was enough for NewJeans fans to start their campaign against HYBE, claiming Min Hee Jin was right all along when she spoke about inflated sales. 

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However, ENHYPEN fans, known as Engenes, took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to defend their favourite group. Fans provided receipts and proof showing that ENHYPEN's sales could not have been inflated. In fact, ENHYPEN was not even majority-owned by HYBE until the fall of 2023; CJ ENM's company, Stone Entertainment, distributed their albums.

About ENHYPEN:

"Fanmade: ENHYPEN," a documentary exploring the bond between the K-Pop stars and their fans, is set to premiere in select AMC Theaters on November 8. The film chronicles the parallel journeys of ENHYPEN and Engenes, showcasing the group's performances during their U.S. arena tour. It builds up to the Samsung Galaxy Fanmade concert, where five female fans collaborate to create a unique experience for both the band and the audience.

The documentary includes behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and performances from the seven-member boy group: Jungwon, Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki.

The group released their second full-length album, Romance: Untold, in July, which achieved their highest position on the Billboard 200 chart, debuting at No. 2.