K-Netz Speculate Why HYBE Artists Except NewJeans Were Excluded at 2024 KGMA Lineup

Ahead of the first-ever Korea Grand Music Awards (2024 KGMA), K-Netz discussed the true reason HYBE artists weren't attending the event except for NewJeans.

On November 16 and 17, KGMA, a newly-established music awards ceremony, will be held at the Inspire Arena in Incheon.

This is drawing high expectations from fans as the event was led by Director Han Dong Chul, the so-called "Godfather" of Korean audition programs, such as "Unpretty Rapstar," "Produce 101," and "My Teenage Girls."

He also directed the first "MAMA," the current most popular awards ceremony.

Ahead of the two-day event, KGMA raised K-pop fans' excitement as it revealed its star-studded lineup, such as TVXQ, SHINee Taemin, EXO D.O., DAY6, (G)I-DLE, NewJeans, aespa, RIIZE, BIBI, and many more.

NewJeans Hanni will lead the first day with Nam Ji Hyun, while on Day 2, aespa Winter will join Nam instead.

When the full lineup was unveiled, fans tilted their heads as to why HYBE artists were not participating except NewJeans, who is under ADOR.

In online communities, speculation arose that the reason might be due to its relationship with the K-media, Daily Sports (Edaily M). The newspaper is among those who regularly write articles about HYBE and Bang Si Hyuk's corruption.

KGMA is hosted by Daily Sports and will be working with Hanteo Chart, Genie Music, Flo, and Bugs, and Fancast as its official fan-voting company.

But shockingly, despite HYBE's exclusion from the program, K-pop stans are more delighted by the lineup.

Currently, the conglomerate is facing multiple controversies regarding Min Hee Jin, and NewJeans bullying and sabotaging other artists through their internal reports.

READ ALSO: 1st Korea Grand Music Awards Announces Full Artist Lineup: NewJeans, D.O., TVXQ, More

Here are the comments:

• "This lineup alone makes it seem like a fairer awards show than any other."
• "Wow but the lineup is crazy, I want to go."
• "Now, honestly, it's okay if the HYBE artists don't come out, right? If they do, it'll just be noisy."
• "I hope it goes well and becomes a main awards ceremony."
• "It seems like the best lineup among recent award ceremonies."
• "I actually like it without the HYBE."

RELATED ARTICLE: SEVENTEEN Seungkwan Breaks Silence Following HYBE Drama: 'We Are Not Your Items'

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Written by Eunice Dela Cruz