The team of singer Xiumin, who is involved in a controversy with KBS over the unsuccessful grants appearance on 'Music Bank,' has once again demanded an official stance.
On the 8th, the team stated, 'At the '2025 KBS Spring New Entertainment Program Presentation' held on the 7th, Han Kyung-cheon, head of KBS's entertainment center, noted regarding this controversy, 'It's a communication problem between the production team and the planning agency. We are not considering other MCs until Imujin arrives. I believe that if we wait and communicate, good opportunities will come.'' The team added, 'In response, we will trust the announcement made by Head Han Kyung-cheon and prepare for our artists, including Lee Soo-geun and Imujin, to participate in recordings normally starting next week. We ask for KBS's active cooperation in this matter.'
However, the team stated, 'We received no official explanation except for an unofficial response that the reason for Xiumin's unsuccessful grants appearance was that it is impossible to appear at the same time as a singer from a specific agency. We felt that this response unjustly treated the artist and attempted to communicate multiple times, but aside from the media response claiming 'it's not true,' we received no concrete explanations.' The team added, 'We will be waiting for KBS's official stance. This is to prepare a schedule for Xiumin, who has meticulously prepared for a comeback stage for the fans, and for the fans who have believed in and waited for Xiumin for a long time.'
On the 4th, the team stated, 'We have made several efforts to meet with the broadcaster to present a good stage, but KBS has not responded to our contact at all. In this situation, KBS recently informally conveyed that it is impossible for Xiumin to appear simultaneously on programs like KBS2's 'Music Bank' featuring SM Entertainment artists,' claiming that the appearance of their artist was blocked due to pressure from SM Entertainment and KBS.
KBS stated, 'This is not true,' but amidst this conflict, the tensions between the team and KBS deepened when Imujin, from the team, did not attend the KBS YouTube channel program 'Limousine Service' that aired on the 6th.
In response, Head Han Kyung-cheon said at the entertainment program presentation held at KBS Yeouido in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the 7th, 'I have been part of 'Music Bank' for a long time, and casting and lineup decisions are 99% up to the production team. Ultimately, it's a communication problem between the production team and the agency.' He explained, 'We conveyed this stance to a senior official through a meeting last week,' and regarding claims that there had been no contact for two weeks, he stated, 'That's not true.'
Additionally, regarding Imujin's absence from the 'Limousine Service' recording, he said, 'We are not considering other MCs until Imujin arrives. As we wait, I believe they will understand our sincerity.' Regarding Lee Soo-geun's absence from the recording of 'Ask Anything,' he noted, 'Although I have affection for the program that was launched while I was at KBS N, KBS N is a different company, so we will have to check with their executives.'
[OSEN = Reporter Jang Woo-young]