The PD Ahn Joon-young and the CP Kim Yong-bum, two members of Mnet's producing team, have been arrested. Mnet has said once again that it would "take responsibility for any wrongdoings according to the investigation." What responsibility can Mnet take?
The investigation began by viewers who questioned the results of a live contest text voting held in July and accused the producing director Ahn. Suspicions arose as the trainees who were considered as the leading debut runners were eliminated and unexpected candidates were included in the debut group. In particular, suspicions were amplified as the difference between some participants in the final rankings appeared to be equal in number.
Later on July 26, Mnet officially received an investigation request for Produce X', and the police conducted an investigation and a warrant for arrest was filed for four people including the production staff and the agency in three months. As the police determined that the arrest was necessary, it is highly likely that the investigation caught the situation that causes concerns of destroying evidence between the production staff and the agency. This seems to have proven some doubts about voting manipulation.
In fact, Ahn was reportedly found that he received favors of millions won from an entertainment company during a police investigation into a suspicion of 'Produce X' ranking manipulation. The police seized and searched for the adult entertainment center earlier this month to obtain evidence and will apply for charges of breach.
Apart from finding the culprits who manipulated the votes, Mnet should be also accountable for the charge. Indeed, it may seem absurd for Mnet to be responsible for those who passionately watched the program and participated in the text voting as well as contestants who worked hard to win but lost unfairly. Nevertheless, if they should take a minimum responsibility, should it not be "revealing the truth"?
Before the controversy expanded to a full blown investigation on the production team, we need to focus on the background of all this happening.
The investigation into those suspected of fraud began with allegations suggested by the 'national producer'. What they want more than the punishment would be the release of correct information. If there were any manipulations, the original voting results before rigging will also exist. Public disclosure of this should be a priority.
If there was a voting manipulation, there is a possibility that the fate of the debut group and the dropout trainees could have been switched. Viewers participated in the polls, believing that the public could debut idols on their own trusting the fairness of the audition process. But as a result, the 'national producer' was not really a 'producer'. The idea that the trainee I was cheering on might have been pushed back into the debut group, turned into a job scam story.
The Produce X Fact Finding Committee pointed out that Mnet is refusing to release the original data of the voting, which intensifies the suspicion even more.
The committee said, "Vote manipulation is a deceptive action to viewers, unforgivable acts that ignored sweat and tears of 101 trainees, and moreover, the tyranny of media that monopolizes cultural power."
Mnet conducted its own investigation before requesting an investigation into the police and said, "There was an error in the counting and delivery of the votes, but the final rankings did not change." When the alleged voting manipulation of 'Produce X' was mentioned in the National Assembly's audit, the topic was minimized saying, 'it is under scrutiny'. When the results of the investigation are revealed, Mnet will have to be accountable for what they had stated previously.
But whether it's compensation for victims or measures to prevent recurrence, Mnet's 'responsibility' cannot begin without the original data being released.
