The ongoing legal warfare between HYBE and former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin has pulled a high-profile figure into its epicenter, resulting in a complicated public relations situation for BTS member V (Kim Taehyung).
On February 20, 2026, V found himself at the center of a heated online debate after he posted an Instagram story addressing the use of his private KakaoTalk messages as evidence in the Min Hee Jin vs. HYBE lawsuit.
While V intended to clarify his neutrality and express his discomfort regarding a privacy breach, the reaction from the Korean online community has been notably divisive, with many netizens directing scathing criticism toward the idol.
The Statement That Sparked the Controversy
The situation began when court documents from the shareholder agreement lawsuit revealed that V had previously messaged Min Hee Jin regarding the plagiarism allegations involving the group ILLIT. According to reports, V’s message stated:
“(About how plagiarism accusations always come up and are never absent) Yeah… I know, right. I also looked at it and thought, ‘Ah, this is similar…’”
In response to the media storm following this revelation, V posted a message on Instagram to set the record straight:
“This was part of a private, everyday conversation I shared out of empathy because she was an acquaintance of mine. I had absolutely no intention of taking either side. However, I feel very taken aback that this conversation was submitted as evidence without my consent.”
Although his statement sought to emphasize that he was merely being supportive of an acquaintance (Min Hee Jin, who directed his Layover album), the public’s reaction was swift and critical.
Netizen Backlash: “Take It Up With HYBE”
Shortly after his post, discussions on Korean community platforms like theqoo turned sour. A significant portion of the backlash centered on the idea that V’s frustration regarding the “lack of consent” for his messages being used as evidence should be directed at his own agency, HYBE, rather than being aired on social media.
Some netizens argued that since HYBE was the party that reportedly submitted the evidence to court during the litigation process, V’s public complaint felt misplaced.
Commenters expressed their frustration with various sentiments, ranging from disappointment to outright anger. One netizen remarked,
“Go and take it up with Bang Si Hyuk,” suggesting that a public Instagram story was not the appropriate venue for a grievance against internal company handling.
Another scathing comment read:
“Then you can go talk about it with HYBE LOL. HYBE’s the one that released the personal KakaoTalk messages. Since HYBE’s the one who submitted all the evidence to court, go call Bang PD instead of posting on Instagram.”
Concerns Over Brand Image and Unintended Exposure
The backlash also touched upon the broader implications of V’s post. Some critics argued that by addressing the situation publicly, V inadvertently brought more attention to a controversial case that many people were previously unaware of.
“By posting it on Instagram, people who didn’t even know about this now know about the case,” one user pointed out, suggesting that the move was a strategic mistake that harmed his own image and that of his group.
Furthermore, some users took V’s confirmation that the messages were “everyday conversation” as an admission that he genuinely agreed with the plagiarism claims against a junior group under the same parent company. One comment stated:
“So it is a fact that you agreed with them being similar LOL. I think it was a mistake making a post about this.”
The most extreme reactions even involved fans threatening to leave the fandom, with one post stating,
“Makes me want to throw away all my BTS merch at home,” specifically citing the group’s silence on past controversies like sajaegi (chart manipulation) allegations compared to V’s quickness to defend his personal privacy.
A Complex Position for the Global Star
While many fans (ARMY) have jumped to V’s defense, arguing that he is a victim of a privacy breach regardless of who submitted the evidence, the “scathing backlash” highlighted by Koreaboo illustrates the thin line idols must walk.
V’s attempt to assert his personal boundaries-stating he was “deeply disturbed” by the use of his private words- has been reinterpreted by critics as a lack of loyalty or a lapse in professional judgment.
As the legal battle between Min Hee Jin and HYBE continues to unfold, this incident serves as a stark reminder of how the personal interactions of idols can be weaponized in corporate disputes, often leaving the artists to face the brunt of public opinion, regardless of their original intent.
For V, what was meant to be a simple act of “sharing empathy” has transformed into a major point of contention within the K-pop industry’s current landscape.
