Fans are expressing their frustration over BTOB Company's management of BTOB. 

Following BTOB's departure from Cube Entertainment in December of 2023, the group's activities have been managed by BTOB Company, established by parent label DOD exclusively for the idol group's management. However, the company is only home to 4 BTOB members, Eunkwang, Hyunsik, Peniel, and Minhyuk. Changsub is carrying out his activities under Fantagio Music, while Sungjae is housed at IWILL Media. 

Due to the fact that the members are split apart under different companies, BTOB's group activities have been limited in the past year. Yet, despite that fact, the 4 members of BTOB under BTOB Company have continuously promoted using their group name, releasing singles and holding fan concerts. 

Fans, however, have begun to request that the 4 members use a unit name when promoting with only 4-members, rather than as "BTOB". They argued that the name "BTOB" should belong to all 6 members and that the continued use of "BTOB" by the 4-members could amount to "deleting Changsub and Sungjae from BTOB". 

In response to fans' demands, BTOB Company has issued a statement to clarify their intentions behind the use of the name "BTOB":

"We would like to notify you of the use of the name BTOB during the gorup's promotions.

In order to protect the value of the name 'BTOB', BTOB Company obtained the trademark rights through a mutual settlement.

BTOB Company was then established so that BTOB could continue to promote using the group's cherished name. 

Currently, members Eunkwang, Minhyuk, Hyunsik, and Peniel are promoting actively using the name BTOB in the hopes of protecting this name. 

As a result, all activities conducted by these four members will continue under the name BTOB. It has been decided that no new unit name will be used for the activities of the 4 members. 

We would like to emphasize that this decision was reached with the intent to protect the value of the name 'BTOB'. 

Furthermore, these activities are simply what is permitted at this time due to the members' schedules. BTOB Company is always equipped and ready for BTOB's full group activities should their schedules align in the future.

We will wait patiently for the moment when BTOB can be together as one using that name and will always work toward the group's growth."

The statement by BTOB Company was not well-received by fans, who felt that the agency "deliberately avoided addressing the concerns at hand". 

The situation was also aggravated by the fact that important dates including BTOB's debut date and the birthdays of all 6 members were omitted from BTOB's 2025 Season's Greetings package.

Fans weighed in on the matter by commenting,

"The fact that they're still BTOB with 4 members is basically them saying they don't need the other 2 members!"

"How can it be BTOB without Changsub and Sungjae??"

"Why can't the company give a proper reason why the 4 can't promote with a new unit name? There are already so many units in BTOB."

"BTOB-BLUE, BTOB-4U, and now another unit. It's simple!"

"As a BTOB fan, do they know how many times I've been asked, 'Did the other 2 leave the group?'?"

"The company's statement reads like they're blaming Changsub and Sungjae for all this."

"I'm disappointed in the 4 members who seem to be okay with this. This attitude says that they're less interested in protecting BTOB and more interested in promoting themselves."

"Just admit that you're doing it because it's more money that way kekekeke. The fans want BTOB, but you can't give the fans the full group so you're just trying to trick them into thinking that this is the only option."

SEE ALSO: MAMAMOO's Whee In opens up about the pros and cons of being a free agent