
It was a rocky Christmas at the 2023 SBS Gayo Daejeon as fans were left disappointed by technical glitches and ticker fraud.
The 2023 SBS Gayo Daejeon, broadcast live on the 25th from Incheon Inspire Arena, was set to be a grand musical celebration. Hosted by SHINee’s Key, IVE’s An Yujin, and Tomorrow X Together’s Yeonjun, the show boasted an impressive lineup, including veteran group TVXQ on the eve of their 20th debut anniversary, and rising K-pop stars like RIIZE, ZEROBASEONE, and BOYNEXTDOOR.

Though it was expected to be a festive highlight with its “SWITCH ON” theme and 25 top-tier K-pop acts, it also drew some criticism for being heavily idol-centric.
Fans were initially excited about the diverse cover stages and new performances promised by the show to only heighten the Christmas spirit. However, the event was marred by a series of unforeseen incidents right from the start. Many attendees reported being victims of counterfeit ticket scams and fraudulent ticketing services. As the controversy escalated, SBS issued an official statement saying, “We have requested a police investigation, and the exact scale of the damage is currently being assessed.”

As the show unfolded, complaints about sound quality, spelling mistakes, and camera work poured in. A significant uproar occurred during Stray Kids’ performance when NewJeans’ music track mistakenly overlapped, causing outrage online.
Further frustration arose from rapid and disorienting camera transitions, excessive full shots of the audience rather than the performing artists, and an apparent focus on the venue’s lighting and stage design over the performances themselves.
20231225 가요대전 #주연
오늘 퍼포도 주연이가 찢었다!!! 🐱🥹🤍 pic.twitter.com/1r8687z9OX
— 홍복 (@KIMGANE808) December 25, 2023
여기서 욕이 절로 나옴
카메라 누가 이렇게 잡으래 씨x pic.twitter.com/KdDVDws15c— 선 (@115kitten) December 25, 2023
While the 2023 SBS Gayo Daejeon indeed concentrated the spotlight on some of K-pop’s biggest names, the execution left much to be desired. Technical issues and poor show management turned what could have been a celebration of K-pop into a disappointing experience for fans both at home and abroad.
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