ibon Apologizes After Social Media Editor Accused of 'Bullying' K-pop Group on Threads

A recent social media misstep by ibon, a prominent convenience store chain, has ignited controversy and drawn sharp criticism from K-pop fans. The incident unfolded on the Threads platform when ibon's official account seemingly endorsed negative comments targeting a specific K-pop group, CORTIS. A user had posed the question, "Name a K-pop group you dislike the most," which quickly devolved into a barrage of criticism against CORTIS.

Instead of remaining neutral, the ibon editor managing the account responded by liking comments and posting, "Everyone is saying the same group, I can't stop liking them." This action was widely interpreted by fans as the official brand account actively participating in and encouraging the "bullying" of the group, leading to an outcry over the perceived lack of professionalism and media literacy.

In response to the intense backlash, ibon issued an urgent apology late yesterday. The company clarified that the "inappropriate comment" was the result of an employee's "severe lack of professional judgment" and does not represent the brand's stance. To address the situation, ibon has initiated internal disciplinary actions, including transferring the employee responsible for the post. While some netizens believe the editor's actions were unintentional, many others are demanding accountability, emphasizing that such behavior is a matter of professional ethics.