Controversy arose when some fans were subjected to underwear inspections at an in-person fan signing event of the group &TEAM(EJ, FUMA, K, NICHOLAS, YUMA, JO, HARUA, TAKI, MAKI), affiliated with HYBE. In response, the organizers have issued an apology.
On the 9th, WEVERSE SHOP, which hosted the fan signing event for &TEAM, released a statement apologizing to the fans who were present at the event, stating, "We apologize to the fans who participated in the in-person fan signing event of &TEAM for the body checks conducted by female security personnel."
They further explained, "The fan signing event is a space for one-on-one conversations between artists and fans. In order to prevent the leakage of recorded content that could cause difficulties for both fans and artists, we have strictly restricted the entry of electronic devices capable of recording and filming." They acknowledged that on the 8th, there were multiple cases of fans attempting to conceal electronic devices on their bodies, and as a measure to prevent this, female security personnel conducted body checks, causing discomfort to the fans.
They stated, "Regardless of the security reasons, we understand that it cannot be a justification for making fans uncomfortable. We sincerely apologize for the incidents that occurred at the venue." They added, "We will prepare improvements such as introducing contactless methods to ensure that fans can participate in fan signing events with artists in a more comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere."
On the 8th, the group &TEAM, under HYBE JAPAN, held an in-person fan signing event to commemorate the release of their second mini-album, 'First Howling: WE.' Fans who attended the event claimed that staff members conducted excessive body inspections, aiming to check whether they were carrying electronic devices such as smartwatches. Posts on Twitter and other social media platforms stated that there were instances where staff members touched fans' chests or checked inside their underwear in an excessive manner, causing them to feel humiliated. One netizen even claimed that a staff member touched their chest without offering an apology. The topic of "underwear inspections" became a trending topic on Twitter that day.
&TEAM, a rookie group launched by HYBE JAPAN in December of last year, is continuing their domestic activities with their second mini-album.