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| Members of K-pop project band X1 pose for pictures during a media conference held before the group's debut showcase concert, Tuesday, at the Gocheok Sky Dome in southwestern Seoul. From left are Nam Do-hyon, Lee Han-gyul, Han Seung-woo, Cho Seung-youn, Kim Woo-seok, Kim Yo-han, Kang Min-hee, Song Hyeong-jun, Son Dong-pyo, Cha Jun-ho and Lee Eun-sang. Yonhap |
Vote-rigging allegation still haunts
By Lee Gyu-lee
Amid the vote-rigging accusation against K-pop audition program "Produce 101," the program's project band X1 has made its debut as scheduled with its first mini-album "Quantum Leap," Tuesday.
The members are the top 11 finalists chosen through the Mnet show which is accused of having manipulated the voting results.
The voting component has substantial meaning in this show, as the debuting group is based on the premise of making an idol group that the public chose and produced. Thus the accusation has continued to draw public attention, raising questions on whether the program's production team deceived the viewers who took part in the vote.
The boy band members said they tried not to think much about the allegation as they had to prepare for their debut.
"We focused on practicing (for performances), so we didn't have much chance to hear much about the news," the group's leader Han Seung-woo said during a news conference for the showcase "X1 Premier Show-Con" at Gocheok Sky Dome in southwestern Seoul.
"Rather than feeling pressured (by the news), we feel that we should pay back our fans for their support and love. We hope to wash off the stir through our work with this album."
The accusation didn't seem to have much effect on the group's excitement for the long-awaited debut as the members had been working hard to make the cut all during the competition. Mixed feelings of nervous and excitement were visible on their faces as they made their first official media appearance as a rookie group.
"All of us have been focusing on our new album and showcase, so the rumor didn't really hit me until now. But when I got here and saw the enormous stage, I started to get excited and thrilled (to make the debut)," said Cho Seung-youn who worked as a solo artist before appearing on the program. "I worked as a soloist last year, but I was able to make the debut in a group with these 10 great friends….I'm very pleased to be on this stage with good songs and performances."
"So many good things happened while living with other members (after the show) and I'm having so much fun, so I am very grateful for this. I want to thank everyone," Kim Woo-seok said.
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| The group's leader Han Seung-woo, second from left, speaks during the showcase concert "X1 Premier Show-Con." Courtesy of Swing Entertainment |
The group's fans came to the venue hours before the show to celebrate X1's debut and to see its first performances of all seven tracks on the album, filling over 18,000 seats in the stadium.
"(The album) has various genres of songs so it will be interesting to listen. We have cool performances for the lead single FLASH, so I would appreciate it if you can give much love (for the album)," Han Seung-woo said.
Cho added that the songs were written to send messages to their fans. "We didn't have a lot of time in preparing for this album, so we couldn't take part (in writing the songs). But instead, we told the producers what we wanted to say and express to our fans, so our songs can speak to them."
Kim Yo-han also noted the song "Like Always" from the album is especially written for fans. "The song intends to send cheerful messages to our fans. I hope they can feel happiness and lighten up by listening to this song."
Setting aside the program's accusation on vote-rigging, the group successfully ended its first performances as X1, whetting fans' appetites for their future performances and releases. As it is unclear how the accusation will turn out and the effect it will have on the group, the fate of their newly starting career is still yet to unfold.
