ENGENEs have called out HYBE for the caption placed on TWS’ gift box, which bore similarities with ENHYPEN’s official tagline according to fans.
Here’s what happened.
ENGENEs Rally Against HYBE as Outrage Transpire Between TWS’ Gift Box Caption & ENHYPEN’s Trademark Tagline
In K-pop, standing out is a must since the industry is a competitive one. Not only does it help a group gain attention but can also lead them to establish aspects that can resonate with many fans and showcase what makes them unique and different from other K-pop groups.
This branding can take many forms like debuting with a memorable group name, releasing merchandise such as lightsticks, or declaring a recognizable slogan for their introduction. This topic was delved in by fans of ENHYPEN, who are in the middle of a brawl against HYBE.
Earlier on December 21, KST, PLEDIS Entertainment officially announced that the agency will be debuting a new K-pop boy group named TWS (TWENTY FOUR SEVEN WITH US) in January 2024. This will mark the agency’s first new boy group since 2015 after SEVENTEEN.
According to sources, TWS will also have six members in its final lineup. The boy group would also present a refreshing image and a genre called “Boyhood Pop,”which emits boyhood’s youthful and innocent emotions.
TWS will debut under PLEDIS Entertainment, a subsidiary company under HYBE Labels, and it’s only inevitable that other artists under HYBE will promote their junior group. The gift boxes were seen given to groups such as TXT, LE SSERAFIM, and many more.
Their posts included photos of the box containing TWS’ plush toy character, which they used to congratulate the upcoming boy group.
Let’s Go!! @TWS_PLEDIS #TWS #투어스 pic.twitter.com/T7HpyfH1rL
— TOMORROW X TOGETHER (@TXT_members) December 26, 2023
화이팅 응원해요🤍@TWS_PLEDIS pic.twitter.com/EgistfdQXH
— 르세라핌 (@IM_LESSERAFIM) December 27, 2023
TWS 여러분께 선물을 받았습니다! 감사합니다!🎁TWSのみなさんからプレゼントをいただきました！ありがとうございます！❤️@TWS_PLEDIS #TWS #투어스 pic.twitter.com/GGl49lk9Yy
— &TEAM OFFICIAL (@andTEAMofficial) December 27, 2023
DK from SEVENTEEN received a TWS plushie 💙 the boys also wrote him a long handwritten note 🥺⚔️: I would like to ask for a lot of love and affection to the TWS brothers 🤍#TWS #투어스 #247WithUs pic.twitter.com/LtQo9BfdnN
— ;3 (@tfswu) December 26, 2023
[📸] 231227 — BOYNEXTDOOR official Instagram story#TWS #투어스 #247WithUs pic.twitter.com/2ZV6bpn74p
— TWS GLOBAL (@TWSGLOBAL_) December 27, 2023
However, ENGENEs gathered on social media platform X (Twitter) to voice their frustration against HYBE due to the caption written on the gift box saying, “Always connected.”
Fans of ENHYPEN claimed that the caption’s context was uncannily similar to ENHYPEN’s self-created tagline, “1, 2, connect!“
ENGENEs conveyed how unhappy they were with HYBE and expressed how the caption needed to change since it was ENHYPEN’s trademark. Read their comments below:
pledis (a company under hybe) is making a new boy group. all the other groups under hybe, including the enhypen sent these boxes to the new group to congratulate them on their upcoming debut. the top of the box said “always connected” which i guess is gonna be TWS’s new slogan/ pic.twitter.com/V7Qn9dvavu
— ♡ (@nikishuraz) December 27, 2023
guys this is fucking serious. imagine taking something so important: literally enhypen’s trademark, their greeting, their group name’s meaning and handing it to another group, just like that. this can’t be real hybe is a fucking joke i can’t believe this.
— ♡ (@nikishuraz) December 27, 2023
I’m so sad about this TWS slogan, like everyone and their mum was excited till their slogan was released, Hybe fr had to do both Enha and Tws dirty. Can they stop giving away Enhypen’s identity? Like dpmo, you could’ve used anything as TWS slogan and you chose something taken? pic.twitter.com/61hXHBXVKF
— ♡els (@enharollz) December 27, 2023
‘ALWAYS CONNECTED’ ‘CONNECT’ ‘CONNECTED’ is a part of enhypen. So please amend your upcoming pledis’ group “TWS”slogan to something else#ALWAYS_CONNECTED_IS_FOR_ENHYPEN@HYBEOFFICIALtwt@HYBE_LABELS_JP @TWS_PLEDIS @pledisnews pic.twitter.com/MRyrz0Q1pa
— rent 🪽⋆.˚ (@tfwonn) December 27, 2023
Can’t imagine how other group except ENHYPEN say CONNECT as their greetings slogan 😪😪 CONNECT, ALWAYS CONNECT it’s ENHYPENs! ! Don’t dare stole that slogan! !! @HYBEOFFICIALtwt @TWS_PLEDIS @pledisnews pic.twitter.com/uACI2eXly9
— Kakak iparnya Injang 🌵 (@Hoonguin0812) December 27, 2023
we demand that the responsible party immediately resolve and eliminate the plagiarized slogan,”1, 2, Connect””Always Connect”will always be ENHYPEN’s things, FIX IT!#BeliftProtectEnhypensBrand#PledisFixTheTag@TWS_PLEDIS @pledisnews @HYBEOFFICIALtwt @BELIFTLAB pic.twitter.com/gkNltAyEAY
— rent 🪽⋆.˚ (@tfwonn) December 27, 2023
Don’t steal enhypen slogan my god just make new one “1,2, Connect””Always Connect”well be enhypen’s line fix this problem @HYBEOFFICIALtwt @pledisnews
— anqq_(｡♡‿♡｡) (@azmaveth274727) December 27, 2023
IT’S ENHYPEN’s BRAND”1,2, Connect””Always Connect”that will always be ENHYPENs line, FIX IT! @HYBEOFFICIALtwt pic.twitter.com/QSGSwvk6ra
— ً (@hoonikiz) December 27, 2023
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