BTS, Big Bang’s T.O.P. Plagiarism Controversy: Big Hit Entertainment Washes Hands Off Incident, Gaon Chart Issues Public Apology

BTS' and the Kpop group's agency, Big Hit Entertainment, were recently hit with a plagiarism controversy over the septet's performance at the 6th Gaon Chart Music Awards. With Big Bang fans angry over the use of an intro video similar to the clip featured in T.O.P.'s previous performance, the agency including Gaon Chart each issued statements to clarify the incident.

BTS was just one of the Kpop groups who performed during the 6th Gaon Chart Music Awards. Held on Feb. 22, Wednesday, the seven-member boy band rocked the stage with two of their hits namely "Blood Sweat and Tears" and "Save Me."

Shortly after the event, netizens and Big Bang fans highlighted how the clip used during BTS' performance nearly mirrored the video that T.O.P. used in a previous stage performance. The said incident then sparked a deluge of negative feedback from avid Big Bang followers who demanded a formal apology from BTS or Big Hit Entertainment given the plagiarism issues.

Recently, Big Hit Entertainment released an announcement, as obtained by All Kpop, that clarified that they had no control over the general stage design for BTS' performance and did not prepare the video. The Kpop group's agency added, "These complaints have nothing to do with us."

Big Hit Entertainment's announcement was soon followed by a statement from Gaon apologizing for the incident. It appears that the outsourced production firm that the company hired to handle the event failed to check whether the clips used had similarities to other videos, Soompi reported.

Gaon further admitted that they were also unable to monitor the said clips before it was aired. It appears that neither Gaon nor the outsourced firm consulted BTS or the band's agency about the video prior to the event. The company's statement ended with a formal apology for "any inconvenience that [the incident] have caused."