IVE Jang Wonyoung, who was loved as an MC for KBS "Music Bank," shocked K-pop fans as she announced her departure from the show. But what's the real reason she stepped down?  

IVE Jang Wonyoung Drops Out of KBS 'Music Bank'

On January 11, IVE agency Starship Entertainment announced that the idol will drop out of KBS 2TV's "Music Bank" after her last broadcast to be aired on January 13.

The "ELEVEN" singer, who has been the MC of the music show since October 2021, was truly loved by K-pop fans. She even renewed her contract with the channel for another year on September 1, 2022.

With this, she became the first MC given a chance to renew the contract with "Music Bank" in history.

However, she shocked viewers when it was not even a year since the contract renewal when Wonyoung suddenly decided to leave her MC role.

Due to this, her hosting partner, actor Lee Chae Min, will work with special MCs in the meantime until the female idol's successor MC is finally decided.

K-Media Speculate Reasons IVE Jang Wonyoung Left 'Music Bank'

Against the background of the drop-off, there are speculations about the real reason Jang decided to part ways with her MC position in "Music Bank" as it wasn't properly stated in Starship Entertainment's official announcement.

According to Insight and other media outlets, Jang Wonyoung sacrificed her MC role to focus on her upcoming IVE activities.

In particular, IVE will hold its first fan concert "The Prom Queens" at the Olympic Hall in Seoul Olympic Park on February 11 and 12. The two performance dates showed the "Love dive" singers' overwhelming ticket-selling power, with all seats sold out at the same time as the opening.

IVE is reportedly stepping up preparations for the performance to provide a variety of stages and performances with another charm that has not been shown before through "The Prom Queens."

On the flip side, other outlets opened up about the sensitive controversy that is currently brewing about the real reason Jang Wonyoung stepped down as MC for "Music Bank." Rumors are spreading that Jang Wonyoung's agency and KBS have conflicts.

The alleged dispute started when IVE Jang Wonyoung and Leeseo sparked heated discussion after lip-syncing in a year-end stage last year.

On January 5, KBS, the same entertainment company managing "Music Bank," openly criticized IVE, including Jang, the MC of their own music show.

Some who heard the report said it was unusual for KBS to criticize the singer who was the MC of its program, even mentioning her real name. There may be some kind of conflict between Starship Entertainment and KBS.

Just a week after the KBS report, Starship Entertainment announced that Jang Wonyoung would drop out of "Music Bank," which intensifies rumors of conflict.

Others are speculating that the agency and idol were hurt by KBS reports; thus, the decision to drop out of "Music Bank."

READ MORE: IVE Jang Wonyoung, Leeseo Controversy Sparks Debate: Should Lip-Syncing Be Banned?

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Written by Eunice Dawson.