BTS-themed structures, including a prominent sculpture, at the Maengbang beach are slated for removal in South Korea’s coastal city of Samcheok amid an intellectual property rights dispute.
The group’s agency ‘HYBE’ formally requested multiple local governments to dismantle BTS-associated installations. Following official requests from HYBE to South Korean government bodies regarding intellectual property concerns, the coastal city of Samcheok has consented to remove BTS-themed installations.
This decision marks a significant shift in the landscape of pop culture-inspired public art in South Korea, specifically at Maengbang Beach, where a popular BTS-themed sculpture and related installations are set to be dismantled.
The dispute revolves around HYBE’s concerns over intellectual property rights regarding BTS-related structures. The entertainment company had initiated official requests to various local governments, citing potential trademark and portrait rights infringements in these fan-celebrated landmarks.
These landmarks hold cultural significance beyond their physical presence, drawing BTS fans worldwide to pilgrimage destinations featured in the group’s music videos or album jacket photos. However, HYBE’s stance prioritizes safeguarding the artists’ intellectual property, highlighting concerns over potential legal complications arising from trademark infringement.
Despite this move, resistance emerges from several local governments, expressing concerns about HYBE’s approach, emphasizing the installations’ role in attracting BTS fans to these public spaces, and serving the public interest.
While HYBE emphasizes the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and managing the artists’ image, the imminent removal of the BTS-themed sculpture in Samcheok sparks discussions on the fate of similar installations nationwide, raising questions about the future of pop culture-inspired public art in South Korea.
