Rapper and KOZ Entertainment CEO Zico has spoken up to deny recent claims that he accessed an internal HYBE document, specifically the "Music Industry Report," which came up during a national audit.
On October 30, Zico took to Instagram to address the issue, saying, “What’s going on? After reading today’s reports, I felt it was best to clear things up myself.”
He explained, “I’ve never seen the document mentioned, and I haven’t accessed any related email. I only found out about being on the recipients list through the news.” Zico also shared that he confirmed with KOZ Entertainment that there’s a record showing he didn’t open any emails or documents, adding, “For anyone concerned, I hope you have a peaceful day.”
The controversy started when it was reported that, back in January 2022, HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk had asked that Zico be added to a “Weekly Music Industry Report III” email from Weverse Magazine's former editor Kang Myung-seok. Zico’s company, KOZ Entertainment, was acquired by HYBE in 2020, which led to his addition to the document’s distribution.
As the report made waves, Zico immediately denied any involvement, hoping to end the confusion.
On October 24, during a National Assembly audit, details of the “Music Industry Report” were released, revealing harsh comments on idol groups’ visuals and talents. In response, HYBE issued a statement saying that the report was a compilation of fandom and industry feedback, adding, “We take full responsibility and recognize the lack of awareness in our leadership about the report’s contents. The CEO has now stopped the creation of such reports.”
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