AceShowbiz - BigHit Music, the label behind BTS, has launched legal action to uncover the identity of an anonymous user who leaked material from ARIRANG before its official release.

On Thursday, April 9, BigHit Music, a subsidiary of HYBE, filed a petition in the United States targeting the X account @jwngkcck. The label alleges that this user shared unauthorized portions of ARIRANG, including songs, lyrics, and artwork, ahead of the album’s March 20 release. This marked BTS’s first album in six years and a highly anticipated comeback.

The legal request obtained by Billboard asks a U.S. judge to compel X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to reveal the identity of the account holder behind @jwngkcck. BigHit plans to pursue a civil lawsuit in South Korea, aiming for financial compensation due to copyright and trade secret violations. The legal move highlights the label’s intent to protect its intellectual property and the commercial integrity of the album’s release.

According to court documents, "BigHit and BTS invest extensive resources into planning and executing the most effective release of albums, songs, lyrics and associated material as possible, so as to have the greatest possible impact on potential listeners and the market when the media are released." The leak, the label argues, undermined the carefully orchestrated launch strategy, damaging both reputation and sales prospects.

The allegedly leaked content is no longer visible on the @jwngkcck account. BigHit states the user removed those posts and changed their display name from "BTS ARIRANG LEAK" after copyright infringement reports were submitted to X. As of April 13, representatives from both BigHit and X had not responded to requests for comment regarding the ongoing case.

HYBE is known for using U.S. courts to identify anonymous online users responsible for harmful posts or leaks, particularly when the platforms involved operate under U.S. jurisdiction. Social media services like X and YouTube require subpoenas from U.S. judges to disclose user identities. This legal approach helps HYBE respond to violations of intellectual property and defamation laws within South Korea.

Such cases often arise over defamation claims, which in Korea can be addressed through civil or criminal proceedings. HYBE has previously targeted anonymous users spreading false information about popular groups such as NewJeans, SEVENTEEN, and TWS by petitioning U.S. courts to reveal their identities.

ARIRANG debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and maintained the top position for its first three weeks. The album’s lead single, "Swim," also reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and continues to rank within the chart’s top five, underscoring the commercial success of the comeback despite the premature leak.

This incident marks another example of the challenges faced by K-pop agencies in protecting their artists’ work amid a highly competitive and globalized music market. BigHit Music’s legal effort reflects the increasing importance of digital rights management and enforcement in the age of social media leaks.

The outcome of this lawsuit could set precedent for how entertainment companies address unauthorized disclosures and reinforce control over their creative content in international jurisdictions.