Discover the top issues in the K-pop industry this year as selected by industry insiders
2023 proved to be a year filled with groundbreaking developments, controversies, and unforeseen losses for the K-pop industry.
JoyNews24 recently conducted a survey of 200 industry experts, spanning entertainment employees, producers, and entertainment reporters, to determine the most pressing issues in the K-pop industry throughout the year.
With 112 votes, the top of the list was the legal dispute between FIFTY FIFTY and their management company ATTRAKT, leading to the downfall of the mega hit “Cupid” owner.
This was followed by the unexpected passing of ASTRO’s Moonbin, leaving fans and the public in mourning (20 votes). In 3rd place with 13 votes was the fierce battle for control of SM Entertainment between Kakao and HYBE.
In 4th place with 12 votes was BTS’s announcement of enlisting in the military, temporarily pausing their group activities. In 5th place with 7 votes was Lee Soo Man’s departure from SM Entertainment.
The uncertainty of BLACKPINK’s contract renewal took 6th place with 6 votes, followed by Jisoo’s dating news with 5 votes. Earning 4 votes is EXO-CBX’s contract disputes with SM.
Other outstanding issues this year in the survey include BTS’s solo activities, the issue of plagiarism in the industry, New Jeans’ performance in the US, Kwon Eunbi’s Water Bomb stage, the controversy over Hwasa’s indecent performance, channels defaming artists such as Sojang, the polarization between the idol and trot music industries, NewJeans’ comeback, Lim Chang Jung’ securities scandal, Younha’s “Event Horizon” climbing back up on charts, the legal dispute between Lee Seung Gi and Hook Entertainment’s CEO, G-Dragon’s alleged drug use, among others.
