Everything is '9cheonji'... 'Pre-election Broadcast Suspension' Masked Singer 9th Anniversary

Netizens React, "Understand the Decision to Cancel the Broadcast"

Ahead of the April 10 general election, the 9th anniversary special episode of MBC's music variety show 'King of Mask Singer,' which was abruptly canceled due to concerns about emphasizing a specific party, aired on the 14th. As previewed, the special featured scenes filled with the number '9.'

On the 14th, the 9th anniversary special episode of MBC music variety show 'King of Mask Singer' was aired. 'Sarangdo 99.9' and 'Eunha Cheoldo 999' are singing a duet.
[Image source=MBC]

The special, originally scheduled to air on the 7th, was hastily postponed amid concerns that the numerous scenes featuring the number '9' in the trailer evoked the number '9' associated with the Joguk Innovation Party. In the 9th anniversary special broadcast of King of Mask Singer aired on the 14th, all eight contestants challenging the 'King' wore masks related to the number '9.' In the first round, the first group featured 'Seungseung Janggu (9)' and 'Bottom of the 9th, 2 Outs,' the second group had 'Salang Salang Gu(9)pi' and 'Hiduk Hiduk Baekgu(9),' the third group included 'Jjeoneomneun Gu(9) Junpyo' and 'Jinsildeun Gu(9) Raga,' and the final fourth group competed with a duet of 'Love is 99.9' and 'Galaxy Express 999' for advancement to the second round. The first-round eliminations also drew attention; 'Bottom of the 9th, 2 Outs' was Jungmo (real name Gu Jungmo), a member of the nine-member group CRAVITY. Following that, Yoon Do-hyun, a leading figure of the domestic rock band YB who had never appeared before, performed wearing the mask 'Music Doing Igu(29)ana.' He explained that the YB band is celebrating its 29th anniversary this year.

Immediately after the broadcast, netizens generally responded with relief, saying it was fortunate that the episode was postponed. On X (formerly Twitter) and various online communities, comments such as "Good thing they postponed it," "It's all covered with 9s," "If it had aired, it would have unintentionally caused misunderstandings," and "A 9th anniversary special instead of a 10th is a bit random" were posted. Yang Yoon-seok, a writer at the Korea Broadcasting Writers Association, also commented, "It would have been a big problem if the broadcast hadn't been postponed," leaving a review that included "Love is 99.9, Galaxy Express 999, 99 Jeoljeol, Nu9?, Seungseung Jang9, Bottom of the 9th Two Out, 9pi, Baek9, 9 Junyeop, 9 Ra..."

On the 14th, Yoon Do-hyun of YB, a leading domestic rock band, appeared on MBC's music entertainment program 'King of Mask Singer' and explained that the YB band is celebrating its 29th anniversary. [Image source=MBC]

Earlier, MBC hurriedly postponed the episode due to concerns that the number '9,' used to commemorate the 9th anniversary, overlapped with the Joguk Innovation Party's number in the general election, potentially causing misunderstandings. On the 6th, MBC announced on its website, "The 'King of Mask Singer' episode scheduled for the 7th will be canceled due to production scheduling," adding, "It is planned to air on the 14th." On the 7th at 6 p.m., MBC replaced the scheduled program with a special broadcast of the variety show 'I Live Alone.'

In response, Joguk Innovation Party leader Cho Guk stated, "Who came up with the idea to block a 9th anniversary special program just because it had the number 9?" He added, "I don't know if MBC decided this on its own or if there was a call from Yongsan (the Presidential Office). This is such a strange and unreasonable decision that the National Assembly should investigate it." He also said, "If you turn on the KBS 9 o'clock news now, the first screen is True Blue, the color of the Joguk Innovation Party, blue. The KBS 9 o'clock news with a blue background and the number 9 should also be abolished."

The People Power Party's satellite party for proportional representation, People’s Future, criticized MBC for deciding to cancel the 'King of Mask Singer' 9th anniversary special scheduled for the 7th, saying it could remind viewers of the Joguk Innovation Party. They stated, "People’s Future believes there is no connection between the King of Mask Singer 9th anniversary and Joguk Innovation Party number 9," and urged, "We call on MBC to clarify the political suspicions of 'colluding with the opposition party' and to air King of Mask Singer immediately."