WeVerse, Hybe's popular K-pop fan platform, is facing significant criticism for implementing a mandatory digital membership service that requires partner labels to participate and share subscription revenue.

The new service, launching December 1st, affects over 130 music labels using the platform. According to an email sent to partners on September 26th, the "digital membership" will offer fans exclusive benefits through WeVerse's community features.

Key Features and Pricing:

• Monthly subscription model
• Subscription tiers ranging from $2 to $4
• Benefits include offline access, ad-free streaming, and higher-quality videos
• Revenue split: Labels receive 40-70%, WeVerse takes 30-60%

The controversy stems from WeVerse's dominant market position, with 10 million monthly active users and 152 teams hosted on the platform. Of these, 137 are non-Hybe affiliated artists. This market dominance effectively forces labels to accept the terms, as WeVerse has become essential for K-pop fan engagement.

Democratic Party Representative Lee Jung-mun has called for the Fair Trade Commission to investigate potential monopolistic practices and unfair treatment of affiliated companies using the platform.

The new digital membership follows WeVerse's existing $24 annual community membership program but adds premium features similar to YouTube's subscription service.

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