TikTok Challenge Takes a Dark Turn: Dahn World Business Disrupted Over Alleged Ties to HYBE

Source: Instagram

The “Dahn World Challenge” is reportedly trending among Korean teenagers due to allegations that HYBE is associated with a wellness organization called Dahn World. At the same time, there is an ongoing dispute over management rights between HYBE and its subsidiary ADOR.

This “Dahn World Challenge” trend has been causing problems, disrupting operations at Dahn World centers nationwide by making prank calls, knocking on the doors of the building, screaming and running away, and trespassing to film within the building. Trending rapidly among teenagers, some are even reported to have visited Dahn World centers wielding threatening objects like bats.

Source: TikTok

Regardless of the alleged association with HYBE, teenagers have been participating in the viral TikTok challenge in problematic, disruptive, and damaging ways, prompting a statement from Dahn World on May 7: “Our employees and members nationwide are suffering serious physical and mental damage due to the malicious disruptive activities of these teenagers. Please refrain from performing such actions moving forward.”

Established in 1985, Dahn World is an organization that promotes mental and physical health through meditation and body exercises and develops programs to enhance brain health.

Dahn World came into the spotlight when details emerged during a press conference alleging that HYBE’s management had issued threats. This occurred amid suspicions surrounding Min Hee Jin potentially assuming management control due to the controversy surrounding the “OMG” music video.

Since then, suspicions have spread online that HYBE is associated with Dahn World.