The popular investigative show "Unanswered Questions" is under fire for its controversial segment on the K-pop group FIFTY FIFTY. Three days into the uproar, there's still no official statement or apology from the show's side.
SBS's "Unanswered Questions" aired a broadcast on August 19 seemingly defending the group FIFTY FIFTY, sparking intense backlash from viewers. Despite growing demands for an apology and corrective broadcast, "Unanswered Question" hasn't released any official statement.
On August 23, an SBS representative stated to Star News, "It hasn't even been decided if the production team will address the issue." With allegations of biased reporting and shielding FIFTY FIFTY, many are criticizing the show's producers. The escalating situation has led to calls for the show's cancellation, cutting off advertisements, and even criticism towards the host, Kim Sang-jung.
The entertainment industry is skeptical of Unanswered Question's approach. Their subpar investigative methods have seemingly mocked the industry and created unwarranted victims. Following a 2020 episode titled "Manipulated World - Buying Music Streams or Viral Marketing?" the show misidentified a group involved in purchasing streams, leading to a late apology after not verifying the facts surrounding fandom activities.
In the recent episode titled "Billboard and Girl Groups - Who Clipped Their Wings?", "Unanswered Question" produced content that appeared to pre-determine answers. It implied a massive profit dispute between Attrakt's CEO Jeon Hong-jun and TheGibus producer Ahn Sung-il was the reason behind the downfall of FIFTY FIFTY, who were touted as the next BTS. Various circumstances pointed towards the complicated relationships between Ahn Sung-il, his company The Givers, and the members of FIFTY FIFTY, and most of the public seemed convinced.
However, the way "Unanswered Question" handled the investigation has come under fire. Without accurately fact-checking both sides of the story, the show heavily leaned towards Ahn Sung-il's narrative, even exaggerating the potential global revenue of FIFTY FIFTY's song 'Cupid'. Other segments, such as claims about "forced dieting", an incident involving side dishes, and Jeon Hong-jun's absence from monthly evaluations, were later proven false.
SBS and the "Unanswered Question" production team should not be battling viewers. Their recent episode not only portrayed the public in a negative light but also diminished the efforts of countless K-pop producers, likening them to gamblers. This single episode trivialized the decades of blood, sweat, and tears invested into K-pop by many producers, singers, and staff. Following complaints to the Broadcasting Communications Review Committee by viewers, the Korean Association of Entertainment Producers and Korean Management Association have also demanded an official apology and corrective broadcast from "Unanswered Question". It remains to be seen if "Unanswered Question" will stick to their narrative or risk further disgrace.
