Idol bands are not seen as "legitimate" in Korea, says FNC Entertainment's CEO.

Han Seong Ho, the CEO of FNC Entertainment, spoke about the perception in South Korea that idol bands, like FNC's FTISLAND and CNBLUE, are not legitimate. Overseas, however, they are regarded as skilled live performers.

There is a "prejudice" against the two bands in Korea according to Han, reports the K-Pop Herald.

"The two groups compose many of their own songs and perform all the instrumentals when recording, and give live performances," said Han. "But there seems to be a prejudice against these these groups particularly in Korea."

FTISLAND debuted as the first idol rock band in south Korea on 2007, and saw immense popularity in both Korea and Japan. In March, the group released their first fully self-composed album, "I Will." The group collaborated with one of Japan's most acclaimed bands, One Ok Rock, on "Primavera" earlier this year.

In April, FTISLAND's lead singer Lee Hongki discussed the bias against the group in Korea.

"When we would promote in Japan, we performed the songs that we made and people would acknowledge us as a band," he said during an appearance on SBS PowerFM's "CulTwo Show." "But in Korea, we're labeled idols and promote with songs that our company makes."

Similarly, FTISLAND's lablemates CNBLUE have also released music on their own, and all of the song's on the band's upcoming "2gether" album have been written in part by CNBLUE's members. CNBLUE also has a large fanbase overseas, but in Korea relegated to the idol music scene.

Han expressed that because both bands are made up of young men, "regarded as K-pop idols," they are perceived by the Korean public as not being "real bands."