The boy group THE BOYZ and the girl group QWER are in conflict over the shape of their official light stick.
This conflict began when QWER, before its international tour concert “ROCKNATION”, scheduled for October 3–5 at the Ticketlink Live Arena in Seoul Olympic Park, revealed the design of their light stick.
QWER’s light stick is unique in that it takes the shape of a megaphone. It was designed in reference to the fact that singer SIYEON regularly uses a megaphone as a stage prop. Some fans of THE BOYZ then claimed that “the lightstick looks like that of THE BOYZ” and demanded a design change, sparking controversy. THE BOYZ’s light stick, released in 2021, was also inspired by a megaphone but was distinguished by a heart shape.
After the conflict erupted, some fans of THE BOYZ even organized a “truck protest” in front of the headquarters of QWER’s agency, calling for a response from ONE HUNDRED.
Amid the growing controversy, THE BOYZ’s agency, ONE HUNDRED, eventually released an official statement on September 25, stating:
“We asked QWER’s agency to change the design, but no agreement was reached.”
ONE HUNDRED apologized to fans: “We deeply regret not responding more quickly to the controversy.” The agency added: “In the future, to prevent such incidents from recurring, we will take strong measures, including all necessary legal procedures, in cooperation with the relevant authorities.”
They also stated: “We will be even more vigilant to ensure that the precious symbolism that THE BOYZ and their fans, THE B, have built together is not overlooked.”
In response, QWER’s agencies, THREE Y COMPANY and PRISM FILTER, issued an official statement on September 26 expressing their regrets toward ONE HUNDRED.
THREE Y COMPANY and PRISM FILTER stated: “QWER’s light stick poses no issues in terms of design or copyright. We have repeatedly consulted lawyers and intellectual property experts, and it has been confirmed that there are no problems, including copyright infringement.”
They added: “While we were engaged in constructive dialogue with ONE HUNDRED on this matter, we deeply regret that the other party suddenly announced its intention to pursue legal action.”
THREE Y COMPANY and PRISM FILTER concluded: “We will take this incident as an opportunity to listen to various opinions. We will do our best to present a better image to the artists and fans in the future. We will also continue to protect the rights and interests of the artists and fans.”
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: SNS QWER, THE BOYZ
