X1 fans boo CJ ENM for survival audition vote fixing

Fans of disbanded boy band X1 take to the streets Wednesday in Seoul. Yonhap

By Dong Sun-hwa

Fans of now-defunct K-pop boy band X1 took to the streets Wednesday to protest against CJ ENM, operator of cable channel Mnet.

The channel aired the audition program “Produce 101” last summer to launch X1 based on audience voting, but the 11-piece group broke up on January 6 following accusations the program's director and chief producer fixed the results in favor of certain contestants.

Some 800 followers gathered in front of the CJ ENM center in Mapo-gu, western Seoul, slamming Mnet and calling for the formation of a “new X1” comprising members longing to resume their careers.

Only a few days ago, fans of another boy group, EXO, protested near SM TOWN Coex Artium in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. The Artium is a multiplex cultural space run by EXO's management company SM Entertainment.

The demonstrators demanded lead vocalist Chen’s expulsion from the band. The exact number of protesters is unclear, but they raised their voices to expel the singer, who revealed on Jan. 13 that he would marry his pregnant girlfriend. They claim Chen’s marriage can “tarnish” EXO’s image.

EXO fans gathered to demand member Chen's expulsion. Yonhap

EXO's lead vocalist Chen. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

So why do K-pop fans these days take to the streets to vent their discontent?

“In the past, K-pop singers were like unreachable stars to the fans, but nowadays they actively communicate with the followers and build intimacy through social media platforms,” music critic Jung Min-jae told The Korea Times, Wednesday.

“So the fans tend to feel more attached to the celebrities and take collective action to affect them. In X1's case, the fans seemingly have particular affection toward the members, because they 'handpicked' them through voting.”

Jung added: “It is easier for the fans these days to form a group too, since they have dozens of online platforms to meet and talk.”

Regarding the protest, CJENM released a statement on Wednesday afternoon, saying: “We feel very sorry and responsible for X1's disbandment. We will give the members full support.”

But SM Entertainment has not commented on the fans' call on Chen.