Recently, CORTIS, a rookie boy group under HYBE, has been the focus of intense debate after their album, GREENGREEN, achieved record-breaking sales, yet sparked suspicions surrounding the authenticity of these numbers. Released alongside the title track “REDRED,” the album quickly became a topic of discussion, especially after it recorded an astounding 2.31 million copies sold within the first week, securing CORTIS a place among the highest-selling fifth-generation K-pop groups.

Initially, these numbers positioned CORTIS as one of the most promising rookies under HYBE, with many predicting the group’s rapid rise. However, this achievement soon became the subject of skepticism as the numbers appeared to be at odds with the group’s real-world popularity. Netizens, particularly on prominent Korean forums, began raising questions about whether the group’s actual fandom size was consistent with the sales figures. Some pointed out that offline events like pop-up stores for the group did not sell out as quickly as expected, despite the group’s overwhelming sales. Furthermore, CORTIS had recently lost fan-voting competitions to groups with much lower physical sales, adding to the growing suspicion surrounding their album’s success.

The controversy grew even more intense when a video surfaced on social media, allegedly showing large quantities of CORTIS albums stacked next to trash disposal areas before being collected and removed. This footage reignited discussions about the phenomenon of “bulk buying” within the K-pop industry, where fans, or sometimes even distributors, purchase massive amounts of albums for the purpose of securing fan sign-ups, collectible items like photocards, or improving chart performance—rather than to actually listen to the music. The practice has long been criticized for artificially inflating sales numbers and contributing to waste, as large quantities of albums end up unsold and discarded.

The video led many to draw parallels to past controversies involving sajaegi, a term used to describe sales manipulation, often involving the purchasing of albums in bulk to boost rankings and chart achievements. While no official evidence has surfaced to directly link CORTIS to such practices, the group’s rapid rise and the viral video fueled online suspicions. Critics argued that these practices skew the representation of genuine fan engagement and public popularity.

Commentary on social media reflected the growing concerns:

• “If the fandom was truly large enough to sell over 2 million copies, why is the public so shocked by these numbers?”
• “Seeing albums piled next to trash bags feels disturbing.”
• “Considering HYBE’s previous controversies with sales, it’s natural for people to be suspicious.”

However, the accusations were strongly contested by CORTIS’s supporters. Fans pointed out that the group’s popularity was evident in their growing presence on digital platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and other social media, where engagement rates had been increasing at a rapid pace. Reaction videos, streaming statistics, and global conversations all indicated that CORTIS had captured the attention of a large and passionate fanbase, especially among younger international audiences. Many of these fans argued that bulk buying was already an ingrained practice in K-pop culture, not exclusive to CORTIS, and that many other popular groups had benefitted from similar fan-driven purchasing practices.

Despite the controversy, CORTIS continues to maintain a strong presence both domestically and internationally. The group’s single “REDRED” has been performing well on streaming platforms and international charts, further bolstering their status as a fast-rising rookie act. As the sales and streaming numbers continue to grow, the question remains whether K-pop’s obsession with physical sales numbers accurately reflects true popularity or if these figures have become inflated due to the industry’s unique fan-driven purchasing culture.

For now, HYBE and CORTIS have remained silent on the ongoing accusations. The debate, however, has sparked an ongoing conversation in the K-pop industry about the way success is measured and the ethics of sales practices in the digital age. As album sales continue to reach unprecedented levels, there is a growing need for transparency and a reevaluation of how success in the industry is quantified and celebrated.