A few months back, the K-pop industry was excited to know that Chungha left her former agency, MNH Entertainment. After years of her potential being gatekept by the agency, it was long overdue to move into better management (hopefully). However, MNH certainly wanted to be on the bad side of the fans, as they trademarked and kept a lot of Chungha’s success with them. Will there be a chance where the idol soloist can use her original social media handles? Let’s find out.
What Did MNH Do To The Handles and Fandom Name of Chungha?
South Korean media outlets covered the issue first, and everything about what MNH is doing seems wrong. In April 2023, Chungha officially left her former label, after long years of struggles and frustrations. The K-pop idol had been vocal about these rough roads, including the postponement of her album, Bare & Rare Pt. 2.
- MNH vs the former IOI member and her fans have been going on for quite a while. Her fans have noticed the label’s unfair treatment towards the soloist while under their contract. In the recent events, MNH might have aimed to get into the nerves of the fans.
Before returning to the K-pop industry, the female soloist thought of leaving it all behind. Fortunately, she ended up joining Jay Park’s label, MORE VISION, just last October. While we’re seeing Chungha again on social media, it was known that MNH Entertainment has not released the rights to the idol’s original social media accounts — including Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube.
All those followers’ counts on her socials were gone to waste, as MNH chose to gatekeep her accounts, instead of giving her rights over it. Chungha evidently started again with her new accounts that are slowly gaining followers once again.
- Yes, you read that right, even access to her YouTube account was not offered. More often than not, all the royalties, especially from her music videos, that her account garnered would still be received by MNH Entertainment.
What had our minds blown was even her fandom got dragged. Apparently, Chungha’s former agency had trademarked her fandom name before, BYULHARANG. This urged MORE VISION to find a new fanclub name for the artist, and also the current situation worked up the fans.
- BYULHARANG holds a special meaning to both Chungha and her fans. The fandom name translates to “Stars with Chungha.” Byul in Korean means ‘star,’ Ha is from her name, while Rang means ‘with.’
- At this moment, it’s uncertain whether the soloist can retrieve her social media accounts and the BYULHARANG fandom name. But, we hope it will be possible!
Fans’ Outrage Over The Chungha vs MNH Situation
The fans, and even non-fans, can’t help but be frustrated and mad about how it got too far. The fandom name was too much, as this should be between the artist and their fans. MNH shouldn’t have it trademarked for their own sake, in the first place. Fans have been noisy on X about this issue.
chungha wrote this song for her fans (byulharang) and now the fandom name needs to change coz mnh got the trademark. i wish nothing but downfall for mnh pic.twitter.com/ta5bAqwQ0y
— 🌙 (@moonstarbyulie) November 20, 2023
A lot of fans showed how angry they were with MNH Entertainment, specifically on how they treated Chungha. We do agree that her former agency is continuing to do her dirty, despite being out of their control.
https://twitter.com/ultskimchungha/status/1726476434825511061?t=pO8gJBAN-I_rVmmNsMTNBw&s=1
The fact that MNH broke Chungha down so badly that she was considering leaving her career behind, had 0 faith in her achievements, and was so tired… MNH was supposed to build a young woman up, but instead tried to ruin her and for that I wish them the worst downfall of all time.
— ً (@royalchungha) November 20, 2023
With an outstanding career and flawless discography, Chungha didn’t deserve any of what’s happening to her. It’s unsure why MNH seemed to continue to ‘sabotage’ her career. It’s very maddening how the label was and has been treating her.
[ notpannchoa ] Chungha leaves her former company MNH empty handedhttps://t.co/ilOe3X1wia pic.twitter.com/Y7LM0NwaUF
— notpannchoa (@notpannchoa2) November 20, 2023
MNH not letting Chungha have her social media accounts with millions of followers, not letting her have her FANDOM name, the level of evil and pure disrespect to the woman who is the only reason they even still exist… Yeah I can't wait until they fall
— 🍑 Katie in Love 🎈💗 (@sunmi_is_art) November 20, 2023
mnh purely aiming to profit off the “
possible “confusion” of casual listeners going to chungha’s old sns every comeback from now on is so fucking dirty. they want to make money off chungha’s past achievements & popularity while denying chungha herself to take what’s hers…— ⤬ alice (@lovingchungha) November 20, 2023
In the midst of the situation, a lot are thankful for Jay Park and MORE VISION for taking care of Chungha and bringing her back to the industry. And of course, a lot of her fans, the BYULHARANGs, have stood up for her, ever since. Chungha and her fans have always been solid. Also, even non-fans have her back in this circumstance!
https://twitter.com/kchcrush/status/1725946678128054724?t=CkJrv4YPN1u_8OxG_WgOMg&s=19
Honestly let's give our best of the best when Chungha comes back. If it's going to be album bulk buy it as much as you can! Stream her songs well. We fr need to show MNH that Chungha never needed them but instead they needed her.
— Milla✩ (@chunghamuse) November 20, 2023
mnh broke her to the point where she thought about this and even thinking she hasn't had an impact on the industry when she got a lot of hits. not the biggest fan of jay park but I really thanked him for sheltering chungha when she needed a company https://t.co/HK1Ps4YUtf
— 🍄𝓐 • | ia 📚 (@altiyahhh) November 20, 2023
We are with you, Chungha. We hope we can hear more from her in the future, and hopefully, she can regain what MNH has taken from her. Chungha deserves more!
