Copyright sportskeeda
On October 29, 2025, NBN TV reported that South Korea’s National Assembly had called for a full review of the alleged oversight of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. This comes after EXO member Xiumin’s scheduled appearance on One Hundred was abruptly canceled. It reignited the long-standing debates about entertainment agency power. During an audit session in the National Assembly in late October 2025, lawmakers criticized the Ministry for failing to act on growing concerns that large entertainment companies still influence artist appearances on television.The issue came to light after the cancellation of Xiumin's appearance. The idol is now under INB100 following his departure from SM Entertainment. He was reportedly removed from a program lineup when other SM artists were confirmed to perform.According to NBN TV, Rep. Jeong Yeon-wook said in the National Assembly,"The fact that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism responded that ‘there is no incident that we are aware of’ even though the victimized agency disclosed the fact that they were notified of external pressure shows that their supervisory function has been completely paralyzed. This is a serious matter that goes beyond simple incompetence and could even raise suspicions that they are protecting a large entertainment agency.”Lawmakers in the National Assembly highlighted that this situation mirrors the “JYJ incident” from more than a decade ago. It was when artists faced broadcast bans after disputes with their agencies. Although the “Broadcast Appearance Restriction Prohibition Act,” widely known as the JYJ Law, was established in 2015 to prevent such practices, many argue that it has not been enforced effectively.During the National Assembly session, Rep. Jeong Yeon-wook of the People Power Party stated that the Ministry’s lack of inspection into entertainment agencies for the past five years raises concerns about fairness in the K-pop industry.Jeong Yeon-wook said,"Behind the global success of K-pop, unfair practices and bullying by large entertainment companies are still repeated."According to official documents, the Ministry admitted that it had not investigated a single case of possible interference in celebrity broadcasts since 2019, despite repeated allegations. Lawmakers urged the Ministry to strengthen its monitoring systems and ensure no agency can unfairly limit an artist’s opportunities.National Assembly audit renews focus on Ministry oversight and EXO-related disputesThe October audit at the National Assembly also revisited previous concerns about how the government has handled entertainment agency supervision since the 2014 Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act. It was stressed that South Korea’s booming entertainment sector still suffers from regulatory loopholes that allow companies to exercise excessive control.The Ministry has since pledged to conduct a comprehensive agency registration and management inspection before the December 2025 deadline. The review aims to bring transparency to more than 6,000 entertainment agencies currently operating nationwide, many of which remain unregistered. The representative concluded by stating,"If we fail to cut off external pressure and unfairness, K-pop’s achievements will also lose fairness and trust. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism must now take responsibility and take action to understand the situation and improve the system."Baekhyun Base @PopBaeksLINKAt the National Assembly, Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism was criticized for shielding major agencies like SM Entertainment amid growing accusations of power abuse. The Ministry hasn’t investigated a single case in 5 years, despite reports of agency interference.Meanwhile, the EXO-CBX members, Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, continue to face challenges following their legal disputes with SM Entertainment. INB100, their current agency, recently stated that the trio had accepted SM’s conditions for year-end group activities.However, they were later excluded from the lineup for EXO’s December fan meeting and upcoming album. The case and Xiumin’s canceled broadcast have further intensified public debate about how much control major labels still hold over artist appearances.The Ministry’s upcoming review is expected to address these concerns directly, ensuring fair treatment across the entertainment industry while reinforcing the principles behind the JYJ Law.Lawmakers at the National Assembly emphasized that for K-pop to maintain its global reputation, transparency and accountability must remain central to the government’s reforms.
