During a parliamentary audit in the National Assembly, Rep. Kang Yu-jung criticized the lenient punishments imposed on K-pop merchandise producers for unfair consumer practices, highlighting the stark contrast between the fines and the companies' substantial profits. Specifically, Kang pointed out that entertainment giant Hybe was fined a mere 3 million won ($2,200) for violating consumer rights while raking in over 1 trillion won in revenue from selling K-pop products over three years. This raised concerns about the effectiveness of the penalties in deterring such misconduct. The lawmaker's remarks were made during a session of the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee, where CEO Choi Joon-won of Weverse Co., Hybe's global superfan platform, faced questioning from legislators. Hybe, along with other major K-pop companies like YG, SM, and JYP, received fines from the Fair Trade Commission for practices such as denying refund requests and imposing restrictions on returns for defective products. Kang emphasized the need for stricter regulations to prevent companies from exploiting fans' devotion to K-pop artists, citing the inadequacy of current penalties in curbing unfair practices in the industry.