HYBE Responds to ARMYs' Outcry for Changes in Festa Application Rules: ‘We Apologize for the Inconvenience'

In a significant development for BTS fans worldwide, Big Hit Music, a label under HYBE, announced modifications to the application criteria for Jin's upcoming offline event for the "2024 FESTA".

This announcement, made towards the end of June, came as a response to widespread criticism and dissatisfaction expressed by fans.

The agency acknowledged its oversight in the initial announcement.

"We apologize for the lack of clarity in our previous announcement and for not setting detailed application criteria in advance. We will consider the criteria thoroughly and announce the details as soon as possible."

Earlier that day, Big Hit Music had disclosed that Jin would be participating in the "2024 FESTA" event scheduled to take place at the Jamsil Sports Complex in Seoul on June 13th, just a day after his discharge from military service.

The event, as per Jin's wishes, was designed to be a special occasion where he could engage directly with ARMYs, creating a memorable and meaningful experience.

To accommodate this, a fan event was arranged at the Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium.

However, the excitement surrounding the announcement was quickly overshadowed by controversy. The agency had stipulated that fans needed to meet specific conditions to apply for the event.

According to the initial notice, fans were required to hold a BTS Membership and purchase BTS albums released after "Proof" via Weverse Shop during a designated application period (from June 2nd to June 6th).

Eligibility for the event was to be determined based on the total number of albums ordered within this period.

"We would like to inform you that the application criteria for the '2024 FESTA' Jin offline event are scheduled to change. We apologize for the unclear content of the previous notice and for not setting the application criteria carefully in advance.

After the offline event application notice was announced at 11 AM (KST) today (6/2), we plan to supplement (improve) the application criteria to take into account both album buyers who applied for the offline event through the weverse shop details page and those who have purchased albums on the weverse shop before the announcement.

After careful consideration, we will announce the details as soon as possible. We will do our best to prepare the event so that Jin's feelings are well conveyed to his fans.

We once again apologize for the inconvenience caused to our fans, and we ask for your support and interest in Jin's offline event to be held on June 13th.

Thank you."

The primary point of contention arose from the fact that Jin's only solo album before his enlistment was the single "The Astronaut".

Fans argued that the criteria failed to honor the essence of Jin's event, as it allowed for the purchase of other BTS members' solo works to count towards the application.

This situation was perceived as diminishing the significance of Jin's contribution and event. Moreover, fans who already owned these albums were effectively compelled to repurchase them to apply, a move that many saw as a blatant commercial strategy by HYBE to boost album sales rather than a genuine effort to celebrate Jin's return and engagement with his fans.

The backlash was swift and intense, with many ARMY members expressing their disappointment and frustration across social media platforms.

In response to the outpouring of criticism, Big Hit Music's subsequent apology and promise to review and adjust the criteria were seen as necessary steps to rebuild trust and ensure that the event remains true to its intended purpose: celebrating Jin's return with his dedicated fans in a meaningful and respectful manner.

As the situation unfolds, fans remain hopeful that the revised criteria will better reflect the spirit of the event and honor Jin's wishes, ensuring that the "2024 FESTA" becomes a cherished memory for all involved.

KpopStarz owns this article.
Written by Cassidy Jones.