On May 21, the 6th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office revealed the indictment of a former entertainment agency CEO, Mr. Kim, along with 11 others.

The charges against them include obstruction of business by computer interference. This announcement follows a thorough investigation into alleged music chart manipulation activities.

The prosecutor's office disclosed that between December 2018 and December 2019, Mr. Kim and his associates employed a sophisticated scheme to manipulate music chart rankings.

Utilizing over 500 virtual PCs, a multitude of purchased IP addresses, and illegally obtained personal information from 1,627 individuals, they artificially inflated the streaming counts of 15 songs on major domestic music platforms. In total, these songs were streamed a staggering 1,727,985 times through fraudulent means.

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The group operated by enlisting clients via intermediaries, commonly known as brokers. These brokers facilitated the manipulation by distributing IPs across multiple virtual PCs and accessing music platforms through numerous accounts.

This method effectively bypassed the abuse response systems of these platforms, which are designed to detect and prevent multiple account abuses.

A prosecution official emphasized the significance of this investigation, stating:

"Through this investigation, we have concretely confirmed that the longstanding suspicions of systematic music chart manipulation in the music market were indeed true."

This revelation sheds light on the extent of fraudulent practices that may have influenced music rankings and industry perceptions.

In response to these findings, legal actions have been initiated against the accused parties. The case underscores the ongoing efforts to uphold fairness and integrity within the music industry, signaling a firm stance against illegal activities that distort market dynamics.

The trial proceedings are expected to further unravel the intricacies of music chart manipulation and its broader implications for artists, consumers, and stakeholders in the entertainment sector.

The accused individuals face legal consequences for their alleged involvement in this deceptive scheme, marking a significant development in the ongoing battle against fraudulent practices in the music industry.

In recent news, At the 2022 Genie Music Awards, NCT Dream's unexpected wins for Top Artist and Top Album sparked accusations of manipulation against SM Entertainment.

Fans, who expected Lim Young Woong to win, pointed out that NCT Dream's "Glitch Mode" was not a chart-topper, fueling suspicions. These allegations follow past controversies involving SM artists, such as Taeyeon's 2020 Seoul Music Awards win and NCT 127's 2021 daesang for "Sticker." While critics argue these wins defy logic, supporters of NCT Dream defend the group's achievements and hard work

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Written by Cassidy Jones.