BIGHIT MUSIC Rejects Plagiarism Claims Over BTS Song “Swim”

BIGHIT MUSIC has firmly rejected plagiarism allegations involving BTS’s song “Swim”, saying the track is an independent work and signaling that it will respond through the legal process. The statement came after a group of composers reportedly filed a lawsuit claiming the song copied elements from an unreleased demo.

According to the report, three composers alleged that “Swim” shares significant similarities with a demo they had created but had not publicly released. The lawsuit names HYBE and related parties, placing one of K-pop’s most visible companies back under scrutiny over how creative disputes are handled when major artists and unpublished works are involved.

BIGHIT MUSIC’s response was brief but direct. The agency described the lawsuit as a unilateral claim by the plaintiff and stated that “Swim” is an independent creation. It also said it plans to take strong action in future legal proceedings, indicating that the company does not intend to settle the issue only through public statements.

Why The Claim Matters

Plagiarism disputes in popular music are rarely simple, especially when the alleged source material is an unreleased demo. Unlike cases involving two widely available songs, disagreements over unpublished work often depend on questions that are difficult for the public to evaluate: who had access to the material, whether the musical similarities are substantial, and whether those similarities involve protected creative expression rather than broad genre conventions.

That makes BIGHIT MUSIC’s wording important. By emphasizing independent creation, the agency is not merely saying the songs are different; it is rejecting the premise that BTS or the production team improperly relied on the alleged demo. The company is also framing the dispute as one to be tested in court, where evidence, expert analysis, and access claims can be examined more carefully than they can be in online debate.

The timing has also become part of the conversation. Some fans questioned why the claim surfaced after “Swim” had already gained momentum, while others argued that artists and smaller creators should be allowed to raise concerns whenever they believe their work has been misused. In high-profile K-pop cases, the public argument often moves faster than the legal one, and that can shape perception before the facts are fully reviewed.

Public Reaction Splits Quickly

Reaction among Korean netizens and international fans has been divided. Some commenters dismissed the allegation as an attempt to profit from BTS’s success, while others used the controversy to criticize HYBE’s broader creative reputation. There were also comparisons to other disputes involving HYBE-affiliated acts, showing how quickly a single lawsuit can become part of a larger debate about trust in entertainment companies.

For BTS, the controversy arrives in an environment where every release is examined at global scale. The group’s music, statements, and legal matters often become international discussion points within hours, which can amplify both support and skepticism. Even a short agency statement can therefore carry more weight than a standard denial from a smaller company.

At the same time, the case is still at the allegation stage. A lawsuit filing does not establish that plagiarism occurred, and BIGHIT MUSIC’s denial does not end the dispute. The next meaningful developments will likely depend on court filings, any evidence presented by the composers, and whether the company releases additional details about the song’s creation process.

The dispute also highlights a recurring tension in K-pop’s global expansion. As Korean entertainment companies work with wider networks of producers, writers, demos, and publishing channels, creative credits and rights management become more complicated. That does not mean every similarity is misconduct, but it does mean agencies face growing pressure to explain how songs are developed and cleared.

For now, BIGHIT MUSIC is taking a defensive legal posture and asking the public to treat “Swim” as an original BTS release. Whether the lawsuit becomes a major copyright battle or fades after initial filings will depend on what the plaintiffs can prove beyond the public claim. Until then, the story remains a contested allegation rather than a confirmed finding.