Mnet, the broadcaster of K-pop dance competition program “Hit the Stage,” said Thursday nothing was problematic in Taemin’s victory on Wednesday’s episode.

(Mnet)

Boy band SHINee’s Taemin, one of the favorites in the competition, has been under fire for using the rendition of his own song “Sayonara Hitori,” also known as “Goodbye,” for his background music. Some online users complained that Taemin “had a different starting point” compared to fellow competitors who created new music for the performance.

However, according to Mnet, Taemin’s use of his own song in the competition could not be viewed as “unfair.”

“We respect each competitor’s choice of music, stage direction,” a source from Mnet was quoted as saying in a Sports Chosun report Thursday. “The producer’s job is to suggest a topic for competition.”

The source added all participants in the show were aware that any song could be chosen as background music

Taemin defeated competitors including NCT’s Ten, Block B’s U-Kwon, Monsta X’s Shownu, Infinite’s Hoya, SNSD’s Hyoyeon, Sistar’s Bora and Twice’s Momo in the first round of the choreography contest on Wednesday’s episode. “Hit the Stage” airs on Mnet and tvN on Wednesdays at 11 p.m.

By Son Ji-hyoung (json@heraldcorp.com)