CJ Mnet rips 5 billion production costs and apologizes for IP eating and running...MPMG Exposes Anger's Gapjil (Roundup)

Nov 12, 2025

There has been a revelation about CJ ENM and Mnet's tyranny over their power.

MPMG held a press conference at its headquarters in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 12th to report the abuse and tyranny of large corporations. Lee Jong-hyun, a PD of MPMG, and Kim Jong-hee, a lawyer at Jeongdok, a law firm, attended the meeting.

Producer Lee revealed the behind-the-scenes story of the production of Mnet 'Great Seoul Invasion' which aired in 2022.

Great Seoul Invasion is a Mnet band survival program that has been broadcasting since July 20, 2022. Peppertons Jukjae, Noh Min-woo N.Flying, Ko Young-bae Kwon Eun-bi, and Yoon Sung-hyun Kim Jae-hwan participated as leaders to compete by selecting their favorite participating band as their team.

The program, which was called the 'band version of Show Me the Money', was reportedly paid for the entire production cost by MPG, not CJ ENM or Mnet.

Producer Lee "I wondered if it was meaningful to summon the parties, but even though he suffered tremendous damage after the end of the show, he created a band program on Mnet and emphasized legitimacy. I held a press conference because I thought there would be a good-faith victim,' he said.

Then "Great Seoul Investigation" is the first case where 100% of the money was paid by a private company. We covered all the production costs and tasks such as promotion, music, performance, and filming, and even paid additional costs. However, CJ took the IP without paying 10 won.

According to PD Lee, discussions about participating in the band competition in 2022 have begun, and CJ ENM has suggested making a band version of 'Show Me the Money'. CJ ENM has decided to create a program on the premise that it will hold a competition with original songs rather than cover songs and give the artist proper treatment, and CJ ENM demanded 3 billion won in production costs. Even though MPMG is paying for the entire production cost, it even demanded that the sponsorship contract be written.

However, an abnormal climate has been detected. The PD said "Nothing was accepted during the program planning phase. I didn't get a judge and I didn't know much about the band. The producer of the outsourced production company (brought from CJ ENM) suddenly quit after the first recording, and Mnet notified them to postpone the broadcast. "The new PD came, but the reality narrative disappeared, and even though unnecessary money was spent somewhere other than the artist, the investment cost ran out," he said, adding, "We asked them to pay for the cover ourselves and take responsibility for the final."

But there was no follow-up.

Lee PD only met Mnet director and business director 40 days after the end of the contest. Overseas copyrights, distribution rights, and appearances in 'MAMA' were all rejected. In the first place, Mnet only used us as a means to create content, but there was no support for the contest winners (touched) and performers. We paid for marketing, managed it, made a deficit, and conducted half of the national tour. Even the company was on the verge of becoming difficult, so after that, the cast members appeared at our company's festival, paid for the performance, and took responsibility. Evidence will be collected and legal action will be carried out. I want to get an apology from CJ ENM" raised his voice.

Lawyer Kim said he would report Mnet and others to the Fair Trade Commission, saying, `CJ ENM's act of receiving support from small and medium-sized agencies and taking the rights to the program is structural unfairness that tramples the weak under the influence and name of large corporations.'

Reporter Baek Ji-eun, silk781220@sportschosun.com , photo = Yonhap News, Mnet

silk781220@sportschosun.com

CJ Mnet rips 5 billion production costs and apologizes for IP eating and running...MPMG Exposes Anger's Gapjil (Roundup)

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