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https://scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3045151/boy-band-x1-disband-over-vote-rigging-scandal-produce-101 Entertainment
Boy band X1 disband over vote-rigging scandal on Produce 101, Korean reality talent show
- Korean reality talent show Produce 101 was embroiled in a vote-rigging controversy, leading to the arrest of the director and chief producer
- X1, a boy band launched by the show last summer, have announced their break up, while another Produce 101 band, IZ*One, is making a comeback
K-pop band X1. They have disbanded after the reality-TV show that launched them was embroiled in a vote- rigging scandal.
By Dong Sun-hwa
K-pop boy band X1 have announced their disbandment after the revelation of a vote-rigging scandal involving the reality TV show that launched the group.
The members’ management companies including decided to break up X1 after failing to reach an agreement about the group’s future, a PR agency representing X1 said.
Last May, South Korean pay-TV music channel Mnet premiered the fourth season of Produce 101, the cable channel’s flagship audition programme for idol trainees that gave birth to K-pop acts I.O.I, Wanna One and IZ*One.
Through multiple rounds of voting, 11 contestants – Kim Yo-han, Kim Woo-seok, Han Seung-woo, Song Hyeong-jun, Cho Seung-youn, Son Dong-pyo, Lee Han-gyul, Nam Do-hyon, Cha Jun-ho, Kang Min-hee and Lee Eun-sang – were selected as X1 members.
They made their debut in August with the album Quantum Leap and enjoyed popularity until the vote fixing scandal erupted.
The programme’s director, Ahn Joon-young, and chief producer Kim Yong-bum were accused of manipulating the voting results in favour of certain contestants. The two were arrested in November and indicted in December on fraud and business obstruction charges.
X1 have officially broken up.
Agencies also allegedly treated Ahn to entertainment services at an adult establishment in Seoul’s Gangnam district more than 40 times until July.
Mnet’s operator, CJ ENM, made an official apology last week, saying it would support and compensate the affected contestants.
Meanwhile, the cable channel revealed it had been working on IZ*One’s comeback. The 12-piece girl band, formed during the third season of Produce 101, have been on hiatus since last year as a result of the scandal.
Read the full story at the Korea Times