Seoul (The Korea Herald/ANN) - Top singer Kim Gun-mo, one of the contestants of South Korean TV singer survival program "I am a Singer," has announced that he was leaving the show.
Speaking at a press meeting, he said he felt sorry and responsible for any problems caused by his decision.
MBC said they will replace the main producer of the show as he kept singer Kim in the show despite him being eliminated.
As the top singer and producer of the show call it quits, it remains to be seen whether the show will go on despite the recent controversies.
MBC to replace producer of singer survival program
MBC said Wednesday it will replace Kim Young-hee, the veteran producer of singer survival program "I Am a Singer," admitting that the producer's decision to keep Kim Gun-mo - who should have been eliminated in the first round of the competition with six other singers - was wrong.
In each episode, seven singers are given a mission to perform in front of a 500-member audience made up of ordinary viewers. Under the program's rules, the singer who receives the lowest score from the audience is replaced by a new singer.
However, Kim Gun-mo was given a special offer to compete in the next round in the episode that aired Sunday.
"Even though the participants and producers of the program had agreed to change the rule (to give Kim Gun-mo another chance), the elimination of the singer who gets the lowest score was a promise that we should have kept," MBC said in a statement. "We will replace producer Kim Young-hee with a new producer for not abiding by the basic rule," it said.
Singer Kim received the lowest number of votes after singing "Wearing Dark Lipstick," originally sung by Im Joo-ri.
Producer Kim's decision to keep the singer drew harsh criticism from viewers who expressed anger through online postings on the program's website.
Among the criticisms was singer Kim's unspoken pressure on six other participants who were all his junior. Kim's music career spans nearly 20 years.
"One exception can lead to another. This can breach the 'fundamental principle' that is the pillar that holds up society. Accepting the viewers' criticism, we will try harder to make the program better," MBC said.
It has not been decided who will replace producer Kim.
The program "I Am a Singer" airs weekly on Sunday at 5 p.m.
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