Earlier this week, allegations surfaced that KBS, a public broadcaster, has been blocking EXO member Xiumin’s appearance on 'Music Bank' in line with SM Entertainment’s stance. While a senior KBS official denied the claims as “groundless,” reports indicate that Xiumin has also been simultaneously barred from appearing on MBC and Mnet, further fueling controversy over the situation.

A broadcasting official who requested anonymity revealed to Munhwa Ilbo that several SM Entertainment executives visited KBS on February 28 and met with Han Kyung Chun, head of the KBS Entertainment Center. Among the visiting SM representatives were Chief A&R Officer (CAO) Lee Sung Soo, advisor Jung, and Director Park. The presence of CAO Lee, who does not handle artist management, at a broadcasting station was considered unusual. Initially, SM stated that “Lee Sung Soo has no reason to visit a broadcasting station,” but later claimed that “Lee and other executives went to support the debut of girl group Hearts2Hearts.”

However, industry insiders find it noteworthy that a large group of SM executives visited KBS immediately after One Hundred, the parent company of Xiumin’s agency INB100, publicly raised concerns about Xiumin’s ban.

Another anonymous source also claimed to have seen the SM executives on the sixth floor of KBS’s entertainment center after 2 PM. However, SM countered, saying, “We never went to the sixth floor. We only exchanged greetings with Hearts2Hearts in the 'Music Bank 'waiting room.”

Korean daily newspaper Munhwa Ilbo reached out to Han Kyung Chun for comment. He firmly denied the claims, stating, “It’s completely untrue. In the morning, I was at a hospital for post-surgical stitch removal. At noon, I had lunch with a retired senior colleague, and in the afternoon, I was with the cast of '2 Days & 1 Night' throughout their filming. You can verify this in next week’s broadcast. While I know the name Lee Sung Soo, I have never met him in person. I don’t know where this information is coming from, but out of the 20 programs in our entertainment division, 'Music Bank' has significance as a K-pop show but is one of the lowest-rated, so we don’t have the time to pay much attention to it.”

Ultimately, broadcasters have the right to decide who appears on their programs. However, the speculation that SM’s influence played a role has sparked heated debate. As a public broadcaster, KBS faces concerns about giving the impression that it is yielding to a major entertainment company with a large roster of popular artists.

Although SM has denied involvement, the company’s past actions have made industry observers skeptical. SM was previously accused of obstructing the TV appearances of JYJ (Kim Jae Joong, Kim Jun Su, and Park Yoo Chun), former members of TVXQ who left the company. In response, South Korea’s National Assembly passed the so-called “JYJ Law” in December 2015, amending the Broadcasting Act to prevent broadcasters from unfairly banning certain entertainers. At the time, JYJ stated, “We fought against unfair practices for seven years. We hope this law prevents future injustices in the entertainment industry.”

In 2013, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) also ruled that preventing JYJ from appearing on TV was an unfair practice and issued a corrective order against SM and the Korea Popular Culture and Arts Federation. This ruling effectively acknowledged SM’s obstruction.

Now, 12 years later, a similar issue has arisen with Xiumin, a former SM artist who changed agencies.

Furthermore, both MBC and Mnet have reportedly informed Xiumin that he will not be able to appear on their programs during the second week of March when he is set to make a comeback. Given his popularity and strong fanbase, many find this decision “hard to understand.” Meanwhile, SM’s new girl group Hearts2Hearts is scheduled to perform on these very broadcasts.

Industry insiders note that if Xiumin were allowed to appear on the same programs as Hearts2Hearts, these allegations could be put to rest. However, the fact that multiple broadcasters are taking the same stance simultaneously raises eyebrows and deepens suspicions.

Despite multiple phone conversations with Munhwa Ilbo, SM initially stated on the morning of March 6 that it would issue an official response. However, as of March 7, the company has yet to provide any further comment.

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