The organizers of the Idol Star Athletics Championships is drawing backlash after revealing a rule that is deemed to violate human rights.
Keep on reading to know more.
Idol Star Athletics Championships Issues Rule That Violates Human Rights
The Idol Star Athletics Championships (hereafter referred to as ISAC) is a special show organized by MBC every year during the Chusok holiday. Here, dozens of K-pop idols appear and participate in various sports activities as they compete with each other. The event had been temporarily cancelled for the past two years due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but is now set to return once again this year.
Over the years, the show has amassed quite the popularity as fans not only get to see their favorite idols play sports and enjoy their time, but also witness their interaction with other idols from different groups.
But with the popularity, ISAC also garnered several criticisms due to different controversies through the years. This includes being criticized for the long filming hours, fans not being allowed to enter the stadium during the 15 to 20-hour filming, and more recently, a staff member caught pulling on LOONA member Chuu's hair back in 2019.
2019 Idol Star Athletics Championship (ISAC)
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And this year, ISAC is already receiving backlash after issuing a notice that details the rules fans in attendance must follow during the filming.
In particular, one of the rule states that fans are not allowed to eat meals during the entire filming due to quarantine restrictions. Not only that, but they are also not allowed to leave the stadium midway of the filming. Based on the notice issued, fans will be able to enter the stadium at 5:30am, with the filming for ISAC scheduled to end at 9pm.
Following the rules notice, the show's organizers received backlash as fans deemed it violating human rights by forcing them not to eat for more than 15 hours. Not long after, ISAC edited their rules to say that fans in attendance can briefly leave the stadium to eat and come back.
2022 Idol Star Athletics Championship (ISAC)
Regarding the rules, MBC said on July 26, "Each of the idols' agencies will be responsible when it comes to recruiting fans to attend the event. So we have nothing to say about that case."
What are your thoughts on ISAC's rules?
More About 2022 ISAC
This year's ISAC will be hosted by Jun Hyun Moo, FTISLAND Hongki, and TWICE Dahyun, with commentators including Aiki and Park Ji Eun.
For the groups in attendance, so far 24 boy groups and 22 girl groups will be joining, such as NCT, Stray Kids, ATEEZ, ITZY, IVE, NMIXX, Kep1er, Brave Girls, Billlie, STAYC, and more.
The show's filming will take place on July 30 and August 1, and is scheduled to air this coming Chuseok holiday.
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Written by Robyn Joan
