ALLDAYPROJECT Annie Replaces Yoona as ‘Gayo Daejejeon 2025’ Host After 10 Years, Sparking Nepotism Debate
All Day Project’s Annie Confirmed as New ‘Gayo Daejejeon 2025’ Host, Replacing Yoona After 10 Years
All Day Project’s Annie has been officially announced as the new MC for the upcoming “2025 MBC Gayo Daejejeon.”
The 24-year-old rookie — daughter of Shinsegae Group president Jung Yoo-kyung and granddaughter of retail magnate Lee Myung-hee — will take over from Girls’ Generation’s Yoona, who hosted the year-end festival for nearly a decade.
The announcement immediately sparked heated discussions online. Many questioned whether a five-month-old rookie idol was ready to lead one of Korea’s biggest live year-end broadcasts, while others pointed out the show’s long-standing tradition of featuring experienced hosts.
Annie, who studied Art History and Visual Arts at Columbia University and debuted this June under The Black Label, has often been described by Korean netizens as “the chaebol granddaughter idol.” The announcement has reignited the ongoing debate over privilege and nepotism in K-pop.
Global Reactions to Annie’s Appointment
International fans also voiced frustration over Annie’s sudden selection.
On social platform X, users accused MBC of blatant favoritism, citing her lack of broadcasting experience and short career.
“No matter what she does at the end of the day shes just another untalented greedy corny nepo who hasnt earned her spot on anything in her entire life” — @breadstix4me
“??? She is not even a hit girl in her own country. It’s incredible the nepotism level that Kpop reached. There are literally many idols who should have that position before her.” — @Minhee4ngel
“rookies replace veteran all the time and that’s okay but for someone without mc experience before to jump straight to annual Gayo gigs that’s next level nepotism” — @donaaated
“I can accept Wonyoung to replace Yoona at some point as she has experience in MCing, popularity, and the visuals, but Annie is a rookie. There’s no way nepotism didn’t have a play in this.” — @Hyukfied
“Money talks.” — @kiiiwiii
While some defended the decision as a chance for new faces to take the stage, most reactions reflected skepticism toward what many perceive as another example of K-pop’s growing elitism.
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