Music label behind K-pop group BTS is taking action against social media trolls

Big Hit Entertainment has filed complaints with police over 'malicious' online comments

South Korean boy band BTS attends the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nevada. / AFP
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They're one of the biggest music groups in the world, with more than 20 million followers on Instagram alone.

But not all of the responses K-pop superstars BTS receive on social media are positive.

Like many global celebrities, the seven-piece group have attracted trolling comments on their digital accounts, and now, the band's label is taking action.

Big Hit Entertainment, the company and record label behind the Idol singers, has filed a complaint with police in South Korea over "malicious" posts.

"Big Hit regularly initiates legal proceedings against malicious activities related to BTS, including ill-intentioned criticism, the spread of groundless information, personal attacks and defamation," the label said to Billboard.

The company has complained about "defamatory" and "insulting" comments made in the first half of this year, made  by online posters who repeatedly  direct abuse against the band.

The posts in question "exceed the reasonable and accepted boundaries of expression and personal commentary", the label added.

Big Hit Entertainment did not give further information about the content of such comments, but said police had subsequently launched investigations.

The company revealed it regularly monitors the BTS social accounts for such material.

"We have responded with zero tolerance against insults and defamation against our artists, and our stance will remain unchanged as long as these acts occur," Big Hit said. "We emphasise that there is, and will be, no leniency or settlement with the perpetrators of these acts."

Who are BTS?

BTS first formed in Seoul in 2013 and broke through into the US pop market in 2017, becoming the first K-pop group to win a Billboard music award.

The seven-member band — made up of Jimin, J-Hope, Jungkook, Jin, V, Suga and RM — were also nominated for their first Grammy this year, though they didn't take a golden gramophone home on the night.

They're behind hits singles such as Idol, while albums Love Yourself: Tear and Love Yourself: Answer both debuted on the US Billboard 200 chart at No 1 in 2018.

Last year, they became the first Korean pop group to top the Billboard album charts in the US, and sold out a concert at New York City’s Citi Field.

But earlier this month BTS announced they would taking an "extended break" from the music industry, to let its members undergo a period of "rest and relaxation".

The break will "provide them with a chance to enjoy the ordinary lives of young people in their 20s, albeit briefly", Big Hit said at the time.