BTS' 'SWIM' Also Sold Illegally in China... Kyoungduk Seo: “Stop Making Money from Other ...

detail * It has been translated using AI BTS’ ‘SWIM’ Also Sold Illegally in China... Kyoungduk Seo: “Stop Making Money from Other People’s Content” 사진 확대 BTS new-release merchandise was found to be sold on Temu through unofficial distribution channels. Photo | Provided by Professor Kyoungduk Seo Controversy has resurfaced over the illegal distribution of BTS merchandise in China. This time, BTS new-release merchandise was found to be sold on Temu through channels other than official distribution routes. Kyoungduk Seo, a professor at Sungshin Women’s University, recently pointed out that BTS’ ‘SWIM’ single was being sold illegally on Temu. The single is officially distributed through designated retailers, including Weverse Shop. The issue is that the merchandise was sold through Temu even if the platform did not manufacture it directly. This has raised questions about whether online platforms can avoid responsibility for products that infringe copyrights or portrait rights simply because they only provide a marketplace. This is not the first time BTS has suffered losses from illegal distribution in China’s online market. In 2023, large quantities of clothing, accessories and photocards using BTS-related trademarks without authorization were uncovered. During BTS’ comeback at Gwanghwamun in March, products that unlawfully used the members’ likenesses and logos and designs related to ‘Arirang’ also appeared one after another, particularly on Chinese shopping platforms such as AliExpress and Taobao, sparking controversy. Cases of official content being copied and sold have also continued. Some sellers illegally scan BTS photo books or album packages and turn them into separate counterfeit goods. Others use images modeled after HYBE’s official seal to make the products appear genuine. The damage is not limited to BTS. Illegal products using the names, images and trademarks of major K-pop artists such as Seventeen, Tomorrow X Together (TXT) and NewJeans have been distributed. Music has also repeatedly been copied and distributed without copyright holders’ permission. Similar problems are emerging across the broader Korean content industry beyond K-pop. Formats from domestic entertainment programs, including tvN’s ‘Youn’s Kitchen,’ Mnet’s ‘Show Me The Money’ and JTBC’s ‘Hyori’s Homestay,’ have been used without authorization. Successful works such as ‘Squid Game,’ ‘The Glory’ and ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ have also been distributed through illegal streaming, infringing on the rights of creators and production companies. The repeated use of Korean content’s names and images to generate revenue, beyond the simple sale of counterfeit goods, is causing growing economic damage. As products and content without valid licenses spread through the market, the revenue that should go to artists and production companies declines. In the long term, this could also harm the brand value of K-content. As global online platforms gain greater influence, voices are growing that platform operators’ management responsibilities must also be examined rather than treating the issue solely as a problem caused by individual sellers. Critics say platforms need systems to filter out illegal products in advance and take proactive action, rather than removing them only after receiving reports. Professor Seo criticized the practice, saying, “This has to stop now,” and adding, “Making money by illegally selling other people’s content must stop immediately.” This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI. # Artist BTS Sungshin Women’s University SWIM Weverse Shop Most Read News 1 Small cities pay 100,000 won per person to local residents to stabilize people's livelihoods. 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