Only LGBTQ+ K-pop Group Suffers Discrimination From MBC? Here's What Happened

By Eunice Dawson Dec 23, 2022

THIS first-ever open LGBTQ+ K-pop group exposed the discrimination they suffered from MBC following the release of a new song. Here's what happened.

LIONESSES Reveals MBC Banned Group's New Song Due To 'Homosexuality'

The first LGBTQ+ K-pop group in Korea, LIONESSES released its new song "It's OK to be me" on December 16. However, the excitement of their fans turned into frustration after the South Korean broadcast channel MBC decided not to broadcast the music since it contained, "homosexuality."

On the 17th then, the originally four-member group, hereinafter trio exposed MBC's discrimination against homosexuality through a lengthy message.

"If the results of the review are based on the message of 'Let's affirm ourselves' or on the grounds that the singer is homosexual, we have concluded that we will not be able to produce music that complies with MBC's review regulations.

It is regrettable that we will not proceed with the 'Objection raised' or 'Request for re-release and re-delivery after complete modification of the sound source and video' that MBC's deliberation office thankfully suggested. Although we cannot share the new song with you through MBC, I hope you enjoy the song as much as you want, freely, and as it says, depending on the conditions you can enjoy."

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Under their position about this issue were the attached results that they received from the MBC review team. Indeed, one reason why it is banned from the channel was due to "homosexuality," clearly stated in the notified result.

In response, this became a hot topic in online communities, with internet users, especially Den, LIONESSES supporters, criticizing MBC's anachronistic judgment. People emphasized that this was against the anti-discrimination law in Korea, raising questions about whether it was legitimate for public broadcasters to openly express their antipathy to "homosexuality."

MBC Explains Real Reason LIONESSES Song Was 'Banned' + Announces New Decision

After being called out by the whole LGBTQ+ community, MBC responded through LIONESSES on December 20 with a new decision, saying that it is now "fit for broadcasting" after reviewing the song for the second time.

"We received apologized directly from the MBC Public Media Bureau for what happened during the screening process and causing misunderstandings, including short answers without detailed explanation.

The results were corrected by the 'fit for broadcasting' judgment without going through a separate review request process, and all members agreed to accept the MBC Public Media Bureau's quick response and sincere words without disagreement."

For further explanation, Park Gun Sik, the director of MBC's public media bureau, explained to the media on the 21st that "homosexuality" is not the real reason the song was initially banned.

"In the first place, it was decided that it was impossible to broadcast because it stimulated Christianity, not because of 'homosexuality''."

According to the MBC deliberation committee, the song contained the words, "My Lord" and 4 out of 7 voted that it should not be broadcast due to the possibility of religious conflict.

They explained that in the process of delivering the result, the employee typed "homosexuality" without explanation.

The director then apologized to the trio, saying:

"We apologized to the singer(s) for making a mistake that we shouldn't have done and proceeded with a review of the song. The person who gave the opinion of 'unbroadcastable' at the first deliberation changed his position at the retrial, saying, 'It does not seem to be intended to stimulate religion, but it seems to be a person who comforts himself."