18 Secret K-Pop Conspiracy Theories That’ll Leave You Feeling Paranoid

1. Source Music, Rainbowbridge World, and BigHit Entertainment were all the same company.

“Source Music, Rainbowbridge World, and BigHit Entertainment were at some point going to be the same company, probably under BigHit, but due to what I assume are management differences, they ultimately decided not to become one mega-company.
“Hard” Evidence:

• Most of SouMu’s female trainees came from BigHit (including SinB and Eunha).
• BigHit co-managed GLAM and 8Eight with SouMu.
• RBW loans producers to SouMu and all of GFRIEND‘s albums have a producer from RBW in their credits.

“Soft” Evidence:

• GFRIEND and MAMAMOO conveniently became friends relatively early on in GFRIEND’s careers.
• SouMu’s CEO and BigHit’s CEO are very close.
• MAMAMOO doesn’t just treat BTS as a senior group. They also do all the things you see junior groups do with their seniors of the same agency (consistently listening to their music, hanging out near them during the big gatherings at the end of music shows and award shows (GFRIEND does this too), and in MAMAMOO’s case, calling them out in adlibs affectionately).
• They have appeared in CFs or variety together.

This leads me to believe that at one point, all 3 groups were meant to be part of the same label, but instead the individual CEOs opted to form their own agencies and work closely together.”  — Glensather

2. 9MUSES is actually a long-term survival program.

“NINE MUSES is actually long-term term survival project to find the one true muse. Members will be in the same group and will drop out over the course of the lifetime of the group. Some will be added to allay the public’s suspicions. You thought Loona or NCT were ambitious, wait until you see what Star Empire will whip out once Kyungri or whoever is revealed to be the ultimate winner in the most epic idol survival show ever!” — CBalGnome

3. Red Velvet‘s debut was moved up to distract from scandals.

“People said that Red Velvet‘s debut was suddenly moved forward because SM Entertainment wanted to distract from scandals. That is why Yeri was not in the first promotions and why the “Happiness” video had some issues which they later corrected.” — Oh1sama

4. Red Velvet announces comebacks right after a big scandal to divert attention

“Not sure if this counts as a conspiracy or just an ongoing fan meme but most reveluvs knows about how an idol at SM Entertainment always has some kind of scandal right before Red Velvet announces a comeback the day after, joking dubbing it as the ‘sacrifice to the Velvet Gods.’ It later starts happening to big-name groups and idols outside of SM.

1. Sulli gets dating scandal = SM announce RV “Happiness” Debut
2. Jessica leaves SNSD/Luhan leaving EXO = “Be Natural” comeback
3. Tao leaves EXO = Yeri added + “Ice Cream Cake” comeback
4. Sulli leaves f(x) and Jessica leaves SM = “Dumb Dumb” comeback
5. KARA disbands = “One of these Nights”
6. Tiffany‘s Japanese flag on Korean independence day/Kangin drunk driving = “Russian Roulette” comeback
7. 2NE1 disbands/Henry complains on SNS about SM = “Rookie” comeback
8. Sistar disbands/Choa leaves AOA/T.O.P drug scandal = “Red Flavor” comeback
   

Whenever anything causes a rift in the Kpop world, I always pray to the Velvet Gods to be the bearer of bad news and some more RV music.”  — pandacard

5. Mnet is slowly taking over K-Pop.

“Mnet (CJE&M) is slowly taking over Kpop:

1. Create a broadcast station with music related programs
2. Programs co-produced with K-Pop companies for these companies: BIGBANG Documentary, Hot Blood, WIN, SIXTEEN
3. Programs co-produced with K-Pop companies for Mnet and its partners: think a temporary group with payment going partially to CJE&M and the company that manages them for that time if different, like Produce 101
4. Program co-produced with Mnet and partners for Mnet and partners: think shows that take former trainees and turn them into a permanent group managed by CJE&M and partners like Idol school (and I’m sure they will make a boy version next year) and less successful Boys24
5. Every year 1 or 2 group owned by CJE&M and partners will debut with Mnet and rule as top K-Pop group
6. The K-Pop market will slowly suffocate and will become a quasi monopoly where only groups shown on TV will be able to be able to become a top group, K-Pop companies will then have to choose between pleasing their new master or fight them with competitor broadcast stations or even develop their own station (YG I see you…).” — cpygbm

6. BTS originally had an eighth member.

“BTS 8th member conspiracy. Guys, I’m creeping myself out. Recently I keep having this really strong sense that someone is missing every time I look at a picture of BTS. And one time there was this Doctor Who episode where when you died your whole existence was completely eradicated from all of time like you were never born, but if you really feel strongly enough about them you can remember that something is off. And my dumb brain is making me think there is an eighth member of BTS that died and was forgotten about but I’m remembering glimpses and can feel his absence.” — parkjizzmin via kingniel