ATEEZ's Hongjoong Accused of Taking Aim at Bang Si-hyuk and HYBE


Hongjoong, a member of the group ATEEZ, has found himself at the center of controversy following allegations that he criticized Bang Si-hyuk, the chairman of HYBE, and the company itself.


On January 15, Hongjoong released SMB, a collaborative track with American rapper Odetari. The lyrics of the song drew attention for their blunt and provocative expressions, such as:

"Act your age, freeloader / Think you’ve made it, hitman / Du-du-du, bang / Blinded, spewing insults while dropping names / Subpar boomer."


Some listeners speculated that these lyrics might be targeting HYBE and its chairman Bang Si-hyuk. The words "hitman" and "bang" are reminiscent of "hitman bang," the pen name Bang Si-hyuk has used since his time as a producer at JYP Entertainment. 


Additionally, phrases like "dropping names" and "spewing insults" have been linked by some to the controversy surrounding HYBE’s internal document, the Weekly Music Industry Report.


Last October, during the National Assembly’s audit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, portions of an internal HYBE document were disclosed, revealing critiques of idol appearances. The revelation sparked significant backlash. HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang later apologized, explaining that the document was compiled retrospectively to gather reactions and opinions on industry trends and issues.


Hongjoong, who debuted in 2018 as a member of ATEEZ, has gained global popularity with hits like Wonderland and BOUNCY. Recently, he showcased his musical talent on the KBS 2TV music travel reality show I'm a Singer in Germany.


ATEEZ is gearing up for their world tour, with a concert at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Arena in Seoul this March. Additionally, starting on January 18, they will kick off their TOWARDS THE LIGHT: WILL TO POWER IN EUROPE tour, performing 14 shows across nine countries, beginning in Lyon, France, and ending in Brussels, Belgium.




Written by Heo Ji Hyeong
Translated by Lee So Yun