The return of MBC’s Idol Star Athletics Championships after a two-year hiatus has sparked significant backlash, with fans calling for the program’s cancellation even before its broadcast. Concerns over safety were heightened after emergency teams were deployed, and a ZEROBASEONE member’s muscle tear occurred during filming.
On August 5th, the 2024 Chuseok Idol Star Athletics Championships was recorded at the Goyang Gymnasium in Gyeonggi Province. Fans at the scene expressed dissatisfaction with the venue conditions, citing extreme heat and a dangerously slippery relay track. Reports indicate that five idols fell during the relay, including ZEROBASEONE’s Han Yujin, who suffered a muscle tear in his leg. This incident is particularly alarming as ZEROBASEONE is set to make a comeback on the 26th, raising concerns about the impact on their promotions.
The relay race also saw ZEROBASEONE’s Park Gunwook and NCT’s Riku falling, leading to tension between their fanbases. Additional conflicts arose between fans of NCT Wish and Xdinary Heroes during the intense competition.
On August 6th, the hashtag “Abolish ISAC” trended on X (formerly Twitter), with users sharing images of the relay track and criticizing the program. Comments included, “We shouldn’t be fighting among ourselves but demanding the cancellation of this poorly managed show. The track isn’t even properly set up for running,” and “Who’s this event really for? My favorite idols are getting hurt; this isn’t right.”
Idol Star Athletics Championships features idol group members competing in various sports. This year’s events include athletics, archery, futsal, dance sports, and breaking dance. The filming on August 5th covered all events except futsal, which is scheduled to be shot later.
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