HYBE’s “Las Vegas Fam Tour” For Korean Press Raises Legality Questions, Dispatch Responds

BTS‘s PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE – Las Vegas live performance is about to start on April 8, 2022. Whereas ARMYs are excited for the performances and town is all borahae-ed up for the group’s go to, HYBE’s “fam tour”—an all-expenses-paid journey deal arrange for the invited media representatives—raised some issues amongst Koreans.

In response to the South Korean press Media At the moment‘s report, HYBE deliberate the fam tour for round 100 members of the Korean press who would “present media protection for each the performances and HYBE’s mission of connecting town and the live performance.” HYBE has, reportedly, offered the press members with airplane tickets, lodging, meals allowances, and COVID-19 exams.

This prompted the query of whether or not or not the fam tour association violates the South Korean “Improper Solicitation and Graft Act,” often known as the Kim Younger Ran Act. This act, handed in 2015 and enforced by 2016, prohibits corruption and bribery—be it within the type of cash, items, or leisure.

The legislation makes it unlawful for public officers (together with journalists, non-public faculty academics, and their spouses) to simply accept items of greater than ₩50,000 KRW (about $40.70 USD), or ₩100,000 KRW (about $81.40 USD) at closed occasions reminiscent of weddings and funerals; it additionally limits dinner expenditures to ₩30,000 KRW (about $24.40 USD) per individual.

As well as, the legislation additionally prohibits fifteen classes of ‘improper solicitations to public officers,’ and such solicitations are prohibited even when not accompanied by a ‘fee, provide, or promise to pay or present, cash or a factor of worth.’

— The Improper Solicitation and Graft Act (through Wikipedia)

The Media At the moment report claimed that, on March 17, 2022, HYBE despatched emails to varied Korean journalists and correspondents who cowl the leisure trade and subjects associated to economics. The company reportedly acquired functions for mentioned sponsorship. For paper and on-line media, one reporter per outlet was invited, whereas for broadcasting corporations, a complete of three employees members protecting filming, audio, and reporting have been invited.

In response to Media At the moment, the fam tour invitees on HYBE’s fam tour departed Korea on April 7, 2022 to achieve Las Vegas on April 8, 2022. The invitees would then cowl the second evening of the live performance and take part in press conferences. The fam tour is scheduled to return to Korea on April 12, 2022, having all bills coated by HYBE.

Following the questions raised, HYBE defined the rationale for his or her invites to the media.

The Las Vegas live shows are that large for BTS, however it’s vital for HYBE because it actualizes our plan to ‘join town and the live performance.’ It had been troublesome for us to convey this concept to life as a result of varied COVID-19 preventative measures. Because the related restrictions have since been eliminated and the quarantine insurance policies for overseas guests have additionally been lifted, we have been in a position to share our imaginative and prescient with the press.

— HYBE

Though arranging massive fam excursions largely stopped after the implementation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, HYBE claimed that it put collectively the Las Vegas fam tour after consulting authorized advisories. HYBE reiterated, quoting the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Committee, that there isn’t a violation of any act in anyway.

We requested the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Committee after we consulted the authorized advisories. They replied that it’s not a violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act to share uniform provisions for official occasions.

In reality, we didn’t ‘choose’ explicit invitees for the tour and have supported all candidates with the identical provisions.

— HYBE

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Committee gave an analogous reply to the media and defined that “transport, lodging, and meals offered by organizers to contributors at official occasions” should not counted as a part of the “prohibited items of the Kim Younger Ran Act.”

To those that continued to query why HYBE’s fam tour is taken into account an exception to the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Committee responded that “exceptions” exist.

All acts have exceptions. The enforcement of those acts can fluctuate relying on the precise circumstances. We, on the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Committee, can’t undergo every circumstance and declare it a violation or not. However we will current requirements primarily based on what has been [defined] via manuals and case research and assist with addressing the completely different circumstances. 

— The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Committee

Along with the aforementioned officers addressing the authorized points, Dispatch additionally clarified that not all Korean press organizations accepted the sponsorship from HYBE. Dispatch claimed that “Since 2017, [they] have been protecting BTS-related information exterior Korea utilizing [their] personal funds.” Dispatch additionally emphasised that they booked their  Las Vegas tickets in early March, manner earlier than HYBE despatched out the fam tour invitations.