4Minute rapper Kim Hyuna, known to fans as simply HyunA, has become the first major artist to be shut out by the decision by the South Korean music program "Inkigayo" ("The Music Trend") to not include any video in their video countdown that has been deemed inappropriate for viewers 18 and under.
Though the music video for HyunA's new solo hit "Red" has received well over 6 million views since it was released on July 27, the 22-year-old has been excluded from the "Inkigayo" K-Pop Countdown due to the video's adult-oriented content.
Allkpop reader Wonderboy 47 believes the show's new rule will hurt the K-pop industry as a whole.
"I don't agree with this. It's kind of unfair since the darker sexier side of K-pop will get overlooked and therefore not be promoted as much," the "Inkigayo" viewer commented on Monday.
"HyunA's video isn't worth [this] rating," he added. "Nothing really happens."
Reader Growlin defended the K-pop music program producers' decision.
"The thing is, music shows are family targeted and many young kids watch it," the viewer wrote.
"I mean I watch music shows with my family. My 9-year-old brother loves it. And HyunA is on these days, shaking her booty all over the TV, which kind of makes the whole thing uncomfortable for the family, already."
The "Inkigayo" snub hasn't appeared to hurt the popularity of "Red," at least among HyunA fans. "Red" was picked as the best HyunA video of all-time in a Billboard poll from last week, earning 52 percent of the vote.
Yet even Billboard reporter Jeff Benjamin's description of the video may cause some parents to raise an eyebrow.
"Looking a bit like Kim Kardashian at times, HyunA shows off her twerking skills, dons fetish-inspired gear and wears a monkey as a shirt at one point," Benjamin wrote.
