EXO’s Xiumin has reportedly been blocked from multiple music shows, not just KBS, making fans wonder—why is One Hundred’s boycott focused only on KBS?

According to The Munhwa Ilbo on March 7, Xiumin was told he wouldn’t be able to appear on MBC and Mnet’s music shows during the second week of March. Later, it was also confirmed that he wouldn’t be performing on SBS’s Inkigayo, meaning he’s essentially been removed from all major broadcasts.

Previously, Xiumin’s agency, One Hundred, claimed on March 4, “KBS informally conveyed that it would be impossible for Xiumin to appear on Music Bank because SM Entertainment artists are also on the show. It is unfair for a public broadcaster to make decisions based on one company’s interests.”

The issue escalated quickly, leading to One Hundred artists like The Boyz and Lee Mujin skipping their scheduled KBS recordings. Lee Soo Geun also did not appear on KBS N’s Ask Anything, sparking a larger boycott.

KBS responded, saying, “Casting decisions are 99% up to the production team. This is a communication issue between them and the agency.” Regarding Limousine Service, KBS added, “We haven’t even thought about a replacement for Lee Mujin. If we wait, we believe he will understand our sincerity.” They also distanced themselves from Ask Anything, stating, “KBS N is a separate company.”

So why is KBS being targeted? A broadcast insider told The Munhwa Ilbo, “On February 28, a group of SM officials, including Chief A&R Officer Lee Sung Soo, visited KBS and met with Han Kyung Chun, the head of the variety department.”

SM responded that they were only there to support their new girl group, Hearts2Hearts, while Han Kyung Chun denied any involvement in Xiumin’s situation. However, One Hundred remains suspicious, especially since they reportedly struggled to contact KBS’s variety team head.

Meanwhile, Xiumin is still in a legal battle with SM Entertainment, along with EXO’s Baekhyun and Chen. Their agency, INB100 (now under One Hundred), claims SM broke their contract by refusing to honor a 5.5% distribution fee and a 10% royalty payment. SM, in turn, sued the three idols for alleged contract violations.

With Xiumin being blocked from multiple networks, fans are asking—was this really just KBS’s decision, or is there something bigger at play?

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SBS's new fantasy historical drama The Haunted Palace is already making waves both in South Korea and around the world.

Starring Yook Sung Jae and Bona, the show exploded in popularity during its very first week — topping Netflix charts in multiple countries and hitting double-digit TV ratings straight out of the gate.

On Korean television, The Haunted Palace shocked viewers with a strong start. Episode 1 pulled in a peak nationwide rating of 10.7%, instantly breaking the double-digit barrier.

The Seoul area rating and the national average were both 9.2%, making it the highest-rated premiere of any SBS drama in 2025 so far.

It also beat out other SBS dramas like Love Scout and Buried Hearts, and even took the #1 spot among all mini-series aired that week, showing that this drama isn’t just trending — it’s leading the pack. (According to Nielsen Korea)

And the success didn’t stop on TV.

As soon as The Haunted Palace dropped on Netflix, it jumped straight to #1 on “Today’s Top 10 TV Shows in South Korea”, proving its massive popularity on streaming platforms.

Globally, it also ranked #1 in the TV series category in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, showing that international fans are just as hooked.
(According to FlixPatrol, April 21)

The drama is also doing incredibly well on South Korea’s own streaming trend charts. On KinoLights — a platform that tracks trends across all streaming services — The Haunted Palace ranked #1 overall, beating both films and dramas. (As of April 19)

Fans are loving the unique story, which mixes fantasy, comedy, and creepy mystery. The drama follows Yeori, a shaman who denies her fate, and Kang Cheol I, a mythical Imoogi spirit trapped inside her first love’s body. Together, they face off against a terrifying ghost called Palcheok Gui — who has a dark grudge against the royal family.

Episode 2 added even more excitement, with Kang Cheol I hilariously struggling to live like a normal human after 1,000 years.

At the same time, Yeori starts hearing the voice of Yoon Gap’s spirit and tries to save him. By the end of the episode, it’s revealed that Prince Wonja (played by Park Jae Joon) is going mad due to Palcheok Gui — and that the ghost has already consumed Yoon Gap’s soul. The showdown between Kang Cheol I, Yeori, and the evil spirit is just getting started.

With high ratings and top OTT rankings, The Haunted Palace is quickly becoming one of the biggest drama hits of the year.

Episode 3 of The Haunted Palace airs on Friday, April 25 at 9:50 PM KST on SBS.

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