QWER Light Stick sparked truck protests from THE BOYZ fandom after fans saw the design as a copy. Protesters demanded sales be stopped, stock destroyed, and a full explanation from the agency. Online battles spread across communities, with signs the harassment may not come from QWER fans but outside attackers.
Truck Protest Highlights Rising Tensions
On September 22, THE BOYZ fandom staged a truck protest in front of 3Y Corporation, the agency representing QWER. Digital screens on the trucks displayed sharp slogans demanding accountability for a light stick design they called a blatant copy. Messages included, “Who benefits from a design that harms the image of an artist?” and “Stop the silence and discard the copied product.” Beyond the physical protest, fans launched a coordinated hashtag campaign calling for QWER to halt sales and permanently withdraw the disputed light stick.
QWER Light Stick Design Draws Strong Fan Reactions
The controversy began just days earlier, on September 16, when QWER introduced its official merchandise ahead of a world tour. The centerpiece of the release was a white megaphone-shaped light stick with the group’s logo placed at its center. Fans quickly noticed its similarity to THE BOYZ light stick, released in 2021, which had introduced the first megaphone-shaped design in idol fandom culture. That uniqueness became a key part of THE BOYZ identity, and its apparent replication stirred immediate backlash.
Similarities Between QWER Light Stick and THE BOYZ Spark Debate
The resemblance went beyond surface appearance. THE BOYZ light stick balanced the handle and head proportions carefully, creating both usability and symbolism. QWER light stick displayed nearly identical proportions, including logo placement, angles, and structure. Fans argued that these details intensified suspicions of plagiarism, particularly since QWER continued selling the product despite growing criticism. With the design of THE BOYZ light stick officially registered as intellectual property in 2022, the debate quickly shifted toward questions of legality and respect for creative ownership.
Legal Stakes Behind the Dispute
Kopan Global, the manufacturer of THE BOYZ light stick, secured design rights in 2022, granting it protection under Korean design law. If QWER’s design is legally confirmed as an infringement, penalties could include fines of up to 100 million won or prison sentences reaching seven years. The issue has drawn the attention of other fandoms as well, many of whom view the case as a broader question of cultural respect in K-pop. Still, both agencies remain silent, leaving fans frustrated by the lack of accountability.
Online Hostility Escalates Toward THE BOYZ Fans
While the protests unfolded offline, tensions shifted into online spaces. The account leading the truck demonstration reported threats from individuals claiming to represent QWER, including attempts to intimidate by leaking personal information. Some individuals lured fans into open chatrooms and attacked them with abusive language. THE BOYZ fandom responded firmly, announcing plans for legal action and making clear they would no longer treat such harassment with leniency.
Questions Arise as QWER Light Stick Remains at the Center
Despite these reported attacks, official QWER communities, including DCInside galleries and Naver cafes, have remained quiet and uninvolved. That silence has fueled suspicions that the aggressors may not actually be QWER fans but outsiders exploiting the controversy. Some argue that misogynists, not genuine supporters, are behind the harassment. Observers also note that QWER fandom, known as Bawige, is composed largely of older men in professional roles who typically respond with rationality. Many believe Bawige will continue to manage the controversy calmly, reinforcing the idea that those causing chaos are not true QWER fans.
Here’s a link to FMkorea. Here’s a link to MLBPARK.
Why did QWER Light Stick lead THE BOYZ fans to truck protests?Fans claimed the design copied THE BOYZ light stick and protested to demand withdrawal, apology, and explanation. As disputes spread online, many argued the attackers were not QWER fans but outsiders escalating the conflict.
Thank you so much for reading this post! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to share them in the comments!
What’s up with the lightstick intellectual property issue? Just curious about the legal stuff.