Why J-Hope’s ‘Killin’ It Girl’ Faced KBS Bans: Latest Updates

BTS’s J-Hope has recently captured attention in the K-pop industry with his new single “Killin’ It Girl,” which has seen remarkable success on various music charts. However, the song faced an initial ban on KBS programs due to certain lyrics that were considered inappropriate for broadcast.

On July 9, following a thorough re-evaluation, KBS announced that the song had successfully passed their review standards. K-media outlet IZE was among the first to report this exciting update.

Initial Broadcasting Ban on J-Hope’s “Killin’ It Girl”

On June 11, J-Hope’s “Killin’ It Girl” was prohibited from airing on KBS shows. The ban was primarily due to a portion of its lyrics that mentioned specific brands, which KBS ruled as promotional content. This violation of Article 46 in their broadcasting code led to the decisiveness of the ban.

Reasons Behind the Lifting of the Ban

To lift the ban, J-Hope submitted a revised version of the song’s lyrics ahead of his upcoming performance on Music Bank. This new version was carefully reviewed again by KBS.

Ultimately, KBS granted approval, allowing J-Hope to perform “Killin’ It Girl” live on June 20. Both the original version and the collaboration with GloRilla were deemed suitable for airing.

According to KBS guidelines, songs previously banned can be reconsidered if the objectionable elements are edited. With the new assessment, “Killin’ It Girl” is now fully approved for broadcasting on KBS’s platforms.

Overview of “Killin’ It Girl” Music Video

Released on June 13, 2025, “Killin’ It Girl” is a captivating pop and hip-hop track highlighting the thrill of falling in love at first sight. Alongside the featured version comes a solo rendition that J-Hope launched simultaneously. Impressively, the music video for the collaboration quickly amassed over 1 million views on YouTube in just 43 minutes, marking a new record for K-pop artists this year.