Counterfeit BTS ‘SWIM’ CDs spotted on Chinese shopping platform; illegal Temu sales anger global fandom

The state of K-pop intellectual property infringement across global distribution networks

Evidence has emerged that the single album ‘BTS’ from the world’s biggest group, ‘SWIM’, is being distributed illegally on a major Chinese e-commerce platform. The brazen conduct goes beyond simple imitation: The counterfeit products were openly advertised, raising fresh concerns about protecting K-pop content and its intellectual property (IP).

On the 15th, Professor Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women’s University shared on social media the results of his analysis of tips from overseas ‘ARMY’ members. The findings confirmed that BTS’ ‘SWIM’ single CD was being sold illegally on the China-based global shopping platform ‘Temu’ without going through authorized distribution channels.

The matter is especially serious because the platform itself also delivered targeted social media ads for the illegal copies in an effort to generate revenue. Seo sharply criticized the conduct as “truly pathetic.” Genuine ‘SWIM’ CDs are currently supplied exclusively through official sales channels such as ‘Weverse Shop’. Critics say allowing illegal products to be exposed while hiding behind the position that the platform is merely an intermediary clearly violates basic business ethics as well as copyright law.

This is not the first controversy involving counterfeit merchandise from China. During BTS’ Gwanghwamun comeback concert in March, large quantities of shoddily made unauthorized merchandise were also distributed, mainly through major online shopping malls. Recalling those earlier cases, Seo strongly urged sellers to immediately stop appropriating other people’s creative works for illicit profit.

As K-pop’s global influence expands, the methods used to distribute ‘pirated content’ targeting the genre are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Alongside cooperation on copyright protection at the national level, strict self-regulation by global platforms is more urgent than ever.