Maengbang Beach in Samcheok City, South Korea gained fame as the location for K-pop group BTS’s album jacket photoshoot. However, all BTS-related sculptures and installations will be removed due to a dispute over intellectual property rights and unauthorized usage.
Last November, HYBE, the management company of BTS, sent a letter regarding the unauthorized use of their intellectual property rights to Samcheok City. HYBE stated that they do not grant permission for the creation of sculptures, murals, or other installations using their artists’ portraits and names in government agencies, local authorities, or institutions. Such installations are considered as an infringement of the artists’ intellectual property, potentially violating unfair competition laws, causing difficulties in management, and negatively affecting the artists’ image.
A representative from HYBE stated, “The company will take strict measures against actions that infringe on publicity rights.”
Maengbang Beach gained widespread recognition after BTS visited it in March 2021 to shoot the music video for their hit song ‘Butter’. The song became a chart-topper and held the number one position on Billboard’s Hot 100 for 10 consecutive weeks, setting new records for the most viewed YouTube music video within 24 hours and breaking Guinness World Records.
On July 17, 2021, the song maintained its number one position for seven consecutive weeks, becoming the eighth song to achieve this feat among the 54 songs that debuted at number one on the Hot 100 chart.
Thanks to BTS, Maengbang Beach received significant attention. A photo zone replicating the album jacket scene was created, and a stamp tour course was established based on the locations mentioned by the members of the group.
It has been reported that Samcheok City and HYBE have been unable to come to an agreement, leading to an inevitable situation. As a consequence, Samcheok City has decided to remove all sculptures related to BTS from Maengbang Beach by Jan. 12.
Additionally, all references to the location of the BTS photoshoot will be removed from the city’s official website, tourism brochures, signage, and other materials by the end of this month.
