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Does HYBE buy music show wins? Music Bank producer GUILTY of rigging scores in favor of Le Sserafim

Fans joked that HYBE purchased music show wins for Le Sserafim after KBS 'Music Bank' producer was charged with score manipulation

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: If there is one K-pop group under the megalomaniac label HYBE that has been laden with controversies ever since its announcement, it is Le Sserafim. From accusations of promoting pedophilic concepts by sexualizing minor members with their pre-debut concept photos, to former member Kim Garam's school bullying controversy as well as accusations of score manipulations, Le Sserafim has seen it all. The girl group made its debut in May of 2022 and immediately after the Garam school bullying controversy, the girl group was accused of fraudulently winning a music show against popular Korean singer, Lim Young-woong.

During the May 2022 broadcast of KBS2's music show 'Music Bank', Korea's most famous trot and ballad singer, Lim Young-woong was brutally defeated by HYBE and Source Music's rookie girl group Le Sserafim. At the music show, it was revealed that Le Sserafim had won against Young-woong with 5348 broadcast points while the trot singer got 0 points. However, the total score of Le Sserafim was 7881 for their debut single, 'I Am Fearless' and despite having 5k more points than Lim Young-woong, the singer recorded 7035 points for his performance of 'If We Ever Meet Again'. Following this, enraged fans of the singer alleged that KBS had rigged the win and was responsible for score manipulations. The issue had the police involved and it is finally revealed that the rigging has turned out to be true. 

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HYBE accused of buying Music Show wins for Le Sserafim

On August 25, three months after the incident, Korean Media released the official information claiming that KBS2's 'Music Bank' purposefully manipulated the score on the show in favor of HYBE's Le Sserafim which kept Lim Young-woong from scoring a win on the show despite his immense popularity in South Korea. The Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station revealed that they had arrested the 'Music Bank' producer who was found guilty of score manipulations. After receiving a complaint about the alleged score manipulation, the police reviewed documents submitted by KBS related to the scoring criteria for broadcasting scores of 'Music Bank'. This report has fans claiming that HYBE and Source Music, the label that manages Le Sserafim purchased the music show win by bribing the producers. However, there have been no such revelations from the Korean Media. 

One fan said, "Hybe can buy wins but not a functioning security system." Another said, "Now investigate hybe’s dealings with melon next. as well as their groups’ album sales. and who they’re in bed within the media." Yet another fan added, "Fraudulent hybe paid the way to cover scandals, manipulate charts, buy wins and much more." One more fan said, "If HYBE can buy music bank trophies.. I am pretty sure all those BTS nominations and wins of major awards are also bought by HYBE." One fan said, "No wonder they didn't win the grammy because either hybe couldn't buy it or their music just sucks." Another fan said, "So HYBE/Source really DID buy off producers to get Le Sserafim that win. Now let's audit every other win by groups from both companies, please." One more fan said, "HYBE and their ability to use money to buy wins for their groups."

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