“10 years of inferiority complex”

EXO’s song “Obsession,” released in 2019, re-entered the music charts amid HYBE’s internal leaks, harking back to a time when the company “plagiarized” the group through BTS and &TEAM.

Recently, HYBE found itself in a dilemma after its confidential documents sabotaging artists from other labels were exposed during the National Assembly’s state audit in October.

Here, his staff’s strategy to disturb artists in the market, create media games against other idols, and other marketing strategies that will favor them, attracting huge reaction from the K-pop world, was revealed.

Among their victims is EXO, the group known to be rivals of its group, BTS. SM launched the originally 12-member group in 2012, while Bang Si Hyuk founded the latter in 2013.

During the two groups’ heyday, the Eris (EXO) fandom repeatedly complained that BTS was a “copycat” of EXO, first recognizing the similarity in its logos.

The nonets below are also known for their jersey numbers in 2013 representing each member, but the following year BTS also started having their own jersey numbers, adding to EXO-L’s frustrations.

This accusation of “plagiarism” continued when the “Growl” hitmakers introduced school uniforms as costumes, and BTS also returned with the same concept.

READ ALSO: EXO: the true kings of K-pop, eclipsing BTS and BLACKPINK in wealth, influence

However, since both fandoms were strong, their rivalry continued for over a decade with no one backing down. Just then, Eris will feel furious with HYBE again as the concepts of her new boy group and TEAM were also similar to EXO’s. Even their slogan, “We Are One Team”, is like a copy of the nonet “We Are One”.

HYBE’s “obsession” with EXO continued even when the members left SM one by one.

In the document recovered last year, the company noted damaging rumors about DO, Baekhyun and Chen. Eris guesses that HYBE is behind the negative articles that circulated the group in 2023 to dismantle EXO.

However, Eris countered and poked fun at HYBE’s “inferiority complex” by having the group’s 2019 hit, “Obsession,” re-enter the charts. Eris also stated that even if the label tried hard to copy EXO, they would not be able to replicate the group’s high-level skills and talents.

RELATED ARTICLE: EXO Wins ‘Favorite Star’ at 1st KTOPSTAR, Beating BLACKPINK and BTS in Group Category

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Written by Eunice Dela Cruz