T/N: The following is a good article about one of the key issues at stake here–the public’s right to demand, see, and judge for themselves an artist. What gave the national broadcasting companies (which are supposedly “public” companies and thus receive taxes paid Korean citizens, BTW) the right to arbitrary censor artists they deemed “might make someone angry?” Please read :)
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The ironical situation of Park Yuchun’s casting in MBC drama “Miss Ripley” and his inability to appear on MBC entertainment programs at the same time… the situation arising from KBS’s restraint of letting JYJ on broadcasts… amongst Korean idols, there isn’t anyone who has as many controversies as JYJ.
There isn’t a single musical program who will allow JYJ to stand on stage, and although they say there aren’t any restrictions, we also cannot find programs trying to let JYJ on the air.
There isn’t direct evidence for the claim that SM Entertainment, JYJ’s ex-management company, has pressured the broadcasting companies in any way. However, it’s also true that all broadcasting companies are reluctant to allow JYJ, the group at the center of the controversy, on stage.
JYJ is being reviewed as having proposed a new model for idols. Unlike other idols who set their looks at their head, [JYJ] have set their singing abilities as their foundation and their performances and singing have achieved steady improvement. Furthermore, each member’s musical capabilities are also excellent and thus the members are showing off their abilities in songwriting, and they are being recognized as real artists beyond idol singers, with JYJ’s Kim Jaejoong even acting as the director for the World Tour. (more…)
