The K-pop universe collectively lost its mind this week when 2NE1 member Park Bom came up with some serious allegations against her old label, YG Entertainment, and its co-founder, Yang Hyun-suk. Before we get into the details of the allegations, let’s take a look at the alleged mistreatment Park and the other 2NE1 members faced at the hands of YG Entertainment.
The South Korean girl group was formed by YG in 2009, and since then, there have been multiple reports of the label and its boss mistreating the girls. In 2014, Park was investigated for allegedly smuggling 82 capsules of amphetamines from the US, though she was not charged.
Through the scandal, YG was nowhere to be seen when it came to supporting their artist, receiving the backlash of many fans who started noticing a certain pattern.
Band member Minzy was the first to walk away from the group. During her time with the band, she never came out with a solo song, despite being one of the country’s most talented artists. After her exit, YG removed her promotional photos.
⚠️ 2NE1 spent 5 very active years under YG Entertainment. During that time MINZY, one of Korea’s most talented dancers & singers, was never given the opportunity to release a solo song. This resulted in her leaving 2NE1 in 2016, after which YG removed her from promotional photos. pic.twitter.com/3u8bRnC1Js
Another member, CL, was apparently heavily restricted by the label (via Reddit) to the point where she was unable to release her music/music videos, which were ready to go. In an interview released in 2012 (via Soompi), CL was asked if she had complaints about the label.
She replied, “We [2NE1] are a girl group. He keeps saying that we are ugly…G came to a concert rehearsal once. When we do a rehearsal we don’t put on any makeup. He looked from afar into the screen and said ‘Ah… They are really ugly.’ In front of all the staff! I was a bit disappointed.“
Yang also caught flak for allegedly calling Blackpink (also represented by YG) the prettier version of 2NE1. While he didn’t outright say that, his comments were (via DungeonLife):
YG has always tried to reverse the trend. But, with BLACKPINK, I wanted to reverse YG’s trend. I wanted to go in a direction that we’ve never tried before. Looks are in fact quite important…It was different when I made 2NE1 or BIG MAMA. I just wanted to do something that I haven’t done before. But, I don’t want their music too be cute and pretty as well. I want them to be a team that does YG-style music but pretty.
Make of that what you may.
Then there’s the fact that multiple members of the band admitted that they had no idea about 2NE1’s disbandment. Apparently, they found out after it had all happened.
⚠️ YG Entertainment did not even inform 2NE1 that the group had been disbanded. The members of the group, like their fans, found out about the disbandment through social media.pic.twitter.com/u3nG4xfjvs
In 2017, Yang stated that one of the reasons behind the disbandment was Park’s mental health. He stated, “What led to the decision to disband the group was the state of Park Bom’s mental health” (via Soompi). She later denied the claims:
⚠️ In 2017, YG Entertainment tried to justify the disbandment of 2NE1 by citing Park Bom's health issues. Bom herself denied this statement on social media. pic.twitter.com/tUqPM7EWfw
Moreover, she apparently learned from her fans that she was no longer a part of the label, instead of being given a heads-up by YG itself:
I did??? Kkk I left YG??
This is just the tip of the iceberg, and if you wish to dive deeper into the alleged mistreatment of 2NE1, you can check out @ParkBomDaily’s explosive thread on X.
Did Park Bom Sue YG Entertainment for Over Quadrillion Dollars?
Coming to the allegations Park Bom is making against YG and Yang Hyun-suk, the artist took to social media to upload something that looked much like a police complaint alleging that she was cheated out of her hard-earned money she should have gotten for the work she did for 2NE1.
Park Bom announced on her Instagram page that she will take legal action against YG Entertainment and Yang Hyun Suk for financial corruption and fraud.
This could also mean that this is the real reason why Bom did not participate in 2NE1’s recent activities. We stand with you! pic.twitter.com/fQL1VoQRXr
As per the translated post, she reportedly filed a complaint against YG for “fraud and embezzlement,” stating, “The defendant has not paid the plaintiff the proceeds that are rightfully due him for a long period of time, and we seek a thorough investigation and legal punishment for this.“
The complaint continued to claim that the defendant didn’t pay Park the profits made from activities like music releases, performances, advertisements, and more. Now for the banger: the letter claims that Park is owed 642.72 trillion won, which is roughly around $4.5 quadrillion USD. As per IB Times, there is a chance that the number could have been a typographical error.
Park Bom’s Agency Refutes Her Claims Against YG Entertainment
Park Bom is currently represented by D-Nation Entertainment, and the label swooped in to try and clear the controversy. In a statement released after Park’s wild post, D-Nation, which she joined in 2018, claimed,
“All the money that Park Bom made related to 2NE1 has been paid. She also did not file an official complaint to the police.” They added, “She’s focusing on recovery. We’ll make sure she gets the best care to return healthy” (roughly translated).
A post shared by D-NATION Entertainment (@dnation_official)
By doing so, D-Nation has refuted any and all complaints Park made against Yang and YG in the first place. If that’s not enough, they even claimed that the artist was out of their control.
“Park Bom is beyond our control as well. We are currently looking into the details of her lawsuit against Yang Hyun-suk.” Find more of D-Nation’s statements on their official Instagram account.
What Was Yang Hyun-Suk’s Reaction to Park Bom’s Post?
Amid the controversy surrounding YG Entertainment and the mystery around Park Bom’s lawsuit, fans finally have updates on what Yang Hyun-Suk thinks about it all.
Via the Chosun Daily, a high-ranking music industry official confided in OSEN, stating that Yang is not worried about the lawsuit, rather he is concerned about Park’s health.
The insider said,
Producer Yang Hyun-suk felt no disappointment or anger upon seeing Park Bom’s SNS post; rather, he was concerned. Above all, he was worried about Park Bom’s health condition…2NE1 remains a special entity for Yang Hyan-suk. He genuinely hopes that Park Bom will regain her health.
With both YG and D-Nation basically refuting Park’s claims, her fans are stuck in confusion, wondering who they should believe. What are your thoughts on the alleged mistreatment and the lawsuit that apparently never was? Share your two cents in the comments section below.
