Overview

• QWER unveiled a white, megaphone-shaped official light stick on Sept. 16 ahead of its world tour, drawing comparisons to The Boyz’s 2021 heart-shaped loudspeaker design.
• ONE HUNDRED said it discussed the similarities with QWER and requested modifications but reported no final agreement.
• The agency pledged strong action, including all legal measures in coordination with relevant authorities, to prevent similar incidents.
• Fans from both groups clashed online after the unveiling, and QWER filed a criminal complaint targeting malicious posts.
• Light sticks hold outsized cultural weight in K-pop fandoms, which helps explain the intensity of the reaction to visually similar designs.