“Unanswered Question” criticized for showing biased attitude towards FIFTY FIFTY & mentioning BTS in unrelated issue
SBS’s current affairs program “Unanswered Question” received negative responses after dealing with FIFTY FIFTY’s contract lawsuit.
“Unanswered Question” discussed the truth behind the contract dispute between FIFTY FIFTY, their agency Attrakt and the outsourcing company The Givers. They covered FIFTY FIFTY’s achievements, conflicts, the positions of Attrakt and The Givers, as well as the members’ parents’ thoughts about the issue.
However, many viewers pointed out that the program only repeated what had been covered by various media outlets and even omitted significant aspects, such as the applications for trademarks and The Givers CEO Ahn Sung Il’s forgery of education and career background, etc. Especially, “Unanswered Question” is also criticized for their biased attitude towards FIFTY FIFTY as they ended the broadcast by highlighting the emotions of the members through a letter without objective verifications.
KBS PD Go Guk Jin commented, “I thought they would compare and verify the main points and differences in the positions from both sides to provide a clear conclusion but they actually ended with the members’ emotional complaints. What were they trying to do?”, adding “Why did they mention only the music revenue and ignore things like events, advertisements, reimbursement, or settlements occurring in all-profitable activities? There was an interview but no follow-up investigation? Even asking a PD in the entertainment industry who knows the issue well could have been more helpful.”
Reporter-turned-Youtuber Lee Jin Ho also expressed disappointment, saying “I could only laugh after watching the broadcast. They seem to have considered FIFTY FIFTY members as victims in the first place and investigated the case that way. This makes me feel so angry”.
Kim Min Hee, a member of the group The Lush produced by Attrakt CEO Jeon Hong Joon in the past, pointed out that “Unanswered Question” was trying to lead public opinion to criticize Attrakt. She said, “Back when I was still active under the CEO’s management, he never restricted the amount to pay for meals and drinks because he felt sorry for the staff who worked hard when the group didn’t do well nor complained a thing. He took good care of us and listened to us. That’s why I’m so frustrated with this broadcast. What’s with the letter at the end?”
Criticism intensified as “Unanswered Question” even mentioned the global idol group BTS at the end of the broadcast to draw sympathy from viewers. The broadcast ended with MC Kim Sang Joong raising the issue of unfair profit settlements for idol singers by saying, “Before BTS succeeded and became a global group, no one paid any attention to the countless nameless idols who disappeared even before making their name known”.
In response to the mention of BTS, BTS fans are expressing discomfort, emphasizing that FIFTY FIFTY’s contract dispute has nothing to do with BTS. Currently, the viewer comment section on the program’s bulletin board is flooded with criticism.
Source: Nate
