BTS “Gaslit” By Bang Si Hyuk In Viral Video, Attitude Sparks Outrage
HYBE chairman Bang Si Hyuk has once again found himself on the wrong side of ARMYs after footage of his meeting with BTS went viral.
The meeting was included in the new documentary BTS: The Return that shows the making of Arirang, BTS’s comeback album after years in hiatus.
The seven members, Bang Si Hyuk, and other HYBE staff members all gathered to discuss the album’s concept and other details.
j-hope looking a $1.3B Chairman in the eye and saying, "that's not it"—respectfully. Hoseok has nerves of steel and the finesse of a seasoned CEO. pic.twitter.com/5z8vifyzPg
— Hoseokiepedia (@hoseokiepedia) March 27, 2026
While everything looked professional, Korean fans have condemned the chairman’s behavior and attitude, as well as his treatment of the members as they tried to share their opinions.
They call a meeting to hear your opinions, but then they act cold and awkward. When someone finally speaks up, even if the idea is good, they interrupt and criticize. Everyone leaves with sour expressions, and in the end, they say the conclusion is yours to make. It’s nonsense. You do whatever you want, so why even hold a meeting? And then the choice is left to us anyway.
— Korean fan via X
의견 내라고 회의는 열었는데 여러분의 원하시는대로 하실지라도 이러면서 싸하게 만들다가 용기내서 의견내면 설사 그게 좋더라도 이지랄하면서 말 끊고 모두 표정썪어가는데도 마지막에 결론은 여러분이 내릴 수 밖에 없어요 이지랄
지맘대로할거면서 회의는 왜 그와중에 선택은 니네가하는거 pic.twitter.com/taVwFKx7ER— Main vocal.💜🐰jungkook𝄞 (@97901_sue) March 28, 2026
The Netflix documentary has already sparked massive tension between BTS fans and HYBE, with many netizens recently even calling for the members to leave the company. HYBE has been blamed for many things fans disliked about Arirang, including its English lyrics.
Dispatch Reports BTS Fought HYBE Over Korean Lyrics In “Arirang”
Now, the communication between the two sides has sparked heated reactions from fans.
The creepier part is that they don’t even seem to realize how oppressive this behavior is, and they put it right into the documentary. The CEO pretends to be democratic but always ends up forcing his opinion, and it gets carried out. It’s always been like this. What’s really chilling is that no one in that organization seems to see a problem with it. I hate that my artist is still in a place like that.
— Korean fan via X
더 소름인건 이게 얼마나 폭압적인 모습인지 인식하지못하고 다큐에 떡하니 넣어놨다는거야 대표가 민주적인 체하며 결국 자기의견을 강요하고 그 의견이 관철되는 식 늘 이래왔다는거고 저 집단안에 누구도 문제의식을 갖고있지 않다는게 너무 소름끼치고 내아티가 저런곳에 아직도 있다는게 너무싫다 https://t.co/sGyosgVvML
— JKVERO.97𝄞mnijungkook💙 (@JKVERO901) March 28, 2026
He’s already made all the decisions, then snap at anyone who voices an opposing opinion, and afterward act all democratic like, ‘The choice is yours.‘ That’s the type of leader you find in every slowly failing company, and he’ll never realize he’s the reason it’s failing.
— Korean fan via X
이미 결정 다 해놓고 반대의견내는 사람 쏘아붙이고나서 지는 민주적인척 선택은 너희의 몫 ㅇㅈㄹ하는 서서히 망해가는 회사에 하나씩 있는 수장 그리고 그원인이 본인인지 영원히모름 https://t.co/Cg9aZhVJZG
— 췌케!.97🥴 (@haiba0901) March 28, 2026
If what’s shown in the documentary is already like that, the reality must have been even more oppressive and subtle. But somehow, you can see the panic radiating off them.
— Korean fan via X
다큐에 나온게 저거면 실제론 더 더 강압적이고 교묘했겠지
근데 뭔가 똥줄이 타 보여 https://t.co/FUSHhDm6hb— myth🐰💙 (@jkbeyondthestar) March 28, 2026
The video has reached more community sites and gone viral on TheQoo, where Korean netizens have also criticized Bang Si Hyuk’s attitude.
- “Classic gaslighting style 🤮”
- “Just speaking politely doesn’t mean you’re showing respect. Ugh, acting all holier-than-thou.”
- “I hate hearing the polite speech. He only acts like this during meetings, not in general. It’s not respect, it’s coercion.”
- “They saw how he treated Min Hee Jin… who would dare push back?”
- “Jungkook speaking up carefully in that atmosphere looks really impressive. Why’s it like that?”
- “I seriously hate this. Seeing this on a Sunday evening makes it worse. It’s so infuriating.”
