The ongoing revelations about HYBE’s internal practices have sparked significant backlash, especially among Stray Kids fans, who claim the group has been wronged by alleged manipulations in the music industry. On October 24, during a national audit, it was revealed that HYBE’s internal “Music Industry Report” contained defamatory remarks targeting other K-pop idols. Additionally, HYBE was accused of inflating sales figures using a controversial "conditional return" policy for albums sold overseas, which has intensified accusations of manipulation.
The issue became a flashpoint for Stray Kids fans, who pointed to the success of Stray Kids' 5-STAR album as evidence of potential wrongdoing. Stray Kids' 5-STAR album has achieved extraordinary milestones, earning:
- Billboard Music Awards (2023): Top K-Pop Album (Won)
- Circle Chart Music Awards (2024): Artist of the Year – Album (Won)
- Golden Disc Awards (2024): Best Album (Bonsang) (Won)
- iHeartRadio Music Awards (2024): K-Pop Album of the Year (Won)
The album's release was a record-breaking moment in K-pop history. On May 30, 2023, just two days before its official release, JYP Entertainment announced that 5-STAR had exceeded 4.93 million pre-orders and reached 5.13 million shortly after, breaking the previous record held by Seventeen's FML. It became the most pre-ordered release in K-pop history, breaking the record of Seventeen's FML (2023) with 4.64 million copies. Later, it was surpassed by Seventeen's EP Seventeenth Heaven in October. On its first day of release, 5-STAR sold 2.39 million copies, and by the end of the first week, it had sold 4.61 million copies, becoming the fastest first-week selling album in South Korea. It later reached 5.24 million copies in June, certified quintuple million by the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA).
Later on it became the second global best-selling album in 2023, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), right after seventeen’s FML.
Seventeen's FML was later awarded Album of the Year at the 2023 MAMA Awards, which has led some Stray Kids fans to feel that their group’s achievements were unfairly overlooked because of the recent revelations about HYBE’s Album Sales Practices, including potential manipulation of sales numbers, fans are now questioning the legitimacy of Seventeen's win and believe Stray Kids' 5-STAR was robbed of its rightful recognition.
fans took to social media to express frustration:
we all knew from the beginning that hybe has been faking their sales and pushing stocks but hybe stans kept gaslighting everyone just like that company that everything about the sales are normal lmao😭 literally every single time we questioned hybe’s payola it somehow became true
— yasmin (@yongbluu) October 24, 2024
but when we said it's suspicious that *someone's* sales suddenly increased just enough to surpass 5star we were called crazy https://t.co/5RA5ZafWG8
— VAY❕OUT NOW (@istaypink) October 24, 2024
Hybe stole the Daesang from SKZ to purchase it for SVT.
— ⋆ 𝕮𝖊𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖆 ᯓᡣ𐭩 (@celisab0m) October 24, 2024
5STAR has been robbed so bad.
We will never forget how they stole it something they Didn't DESERVE!
But SKZ continues increasing their streams and fame,
Hybe's payola success won't make them more relevant than skz https://t.co/G1uL97gnr3 pic.twitter.com/Te3gjaIuhp
The allegations have stirred up tensions among K-pop fandoms, with some arguing that Stray Kids' 5-STAR deserves greater recognition given its monumental success in sales and achievements. These frustrations continue to build as fans await more clarity and accountability following HYBE's controversial internal report and sales practices.HYBE communications has been revealed in the audit. These are album purchases under return conditions.
— 1tokki (@juantokki) October 24, 2024
April 10th, 2023
Management Team
[11:34 AM] Regarding the album, UM is proceeding with imports through Weverse Company, but it seems that the additional 100,000 units will… pic.twitter.com/OPzX2jK4WG
