BTS’s Concert Under Fire From South Korean Authorities Due To “KPop Demon Hunters”
BTS’s upcoming full-group comeback concert has unexpectedly become the center of political controversy in South Korea.
HYBE recently confirmed that the group’s March 21 Gwanghwamun comeback concert will be livestreamed exclusively on Netflix. A documentary about the making of their new album ARIRANG will also be released on the platform later that month.
The announcement drew scathing criticism from members of the National Assembly.
Lawmakers from the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee reportedly questioned HYBE’s decision to partner with a foreign streaming giant instead of a domestic platform. Some raised concerns that granting Netflix exclusive livestream rights goes against the government’s push to strengthen Korean content platforms.
Many cited KPop Demon Hunters as a recent example of Korean cultural content gaining global success while intellectual property and profits flowed overseas.
HYBE responded by clarifying that it retains all core rights to BTS’s music and performances. The company emphasized that Netflix is acting only as a distribution partner and that revenue tied to the music itself will remain in Korea.
HYBE also pointed to practical benefits: Netflix will cover a large portion of production and marketing costs, support global promotion, and provide stable streaming in 190 countries. The company stated that this reduces financial risk while maximizing concert quality.
Despite the explanation, many ARMYs are furious. Fans argue that turning a long-awaited BTS comeback into a political issue is unnecessary and unfair.
When it was time to exempt them, SK played with their fingers and let others use their name as a shield for political discussions, when they tried to promote Busan's World Expo bid – they put everything on BTS shoulders and made them not just perform for free but pay for all the…
— Nicolle⁷ (@EgosShadow7) February 11, 2026
the south korean government must think we’ve forgotten what happened with the busan expo. they took pride in being the host but shifted all the costs and responsibilities onto bts and corporate sponsors. they didn’t pay for anything and did not even provide an appropriate stage.
— sen (@sugatradamus) February 11, 2026
The Korean government overreach is appalling. BTS & HYPE are conducting business as private entities. Just because they are influential enough to affect the country economy does not give the government a say in where they choose to distribute their content. This is whack.
— skye⁷ 🐳💜 (@bangtanism89_) February 11, 2026
