LE SSERAFIM is already generating controversy ahead of the release of its upcoming studio album after one of the group’s new songs was deemed unfit for broadcast by KBS.

The girl group is scheduled to release its second full-length album, PUREFLOW pt.1, on May 22. However, before the album’s official release, several tracks were submitted to KBS for the network’s standard music review process — a system used to determine whether songs are eligible to air on television and radio broadcasts.

Out of the album’s 11 tracks, two songs reportedly failed to pass the review.

One of them, the outro track “Liminal Space,” was apparently excluded from evaluation entirely after KBS categorized it as “a conversation, not a song.”

But the real attention quickly centered on another track: “Saki (ft. Aliyah’s Interlude).”

According to reports, KBS ruled the song ineligible for broadcast due to “abusive language, vulgarity and crude expressions” contained in the lyrics.

The decision immediately sparked online discussion because LE SSERAFIM’s music has not typically been associated with major censorship controversies before. While KBS frequently blocks songs over profanity, explicit lyrics or controversial wording, many fans were still surprised that the group’s new release triggered such a strong response from broadcast reviewers.

As soon as the news spread online, fans began speculating about what exactly the lyrics might contain.

Social media reactions ranged from excitement to confusion, with some fans joking that the controversy only made them more curious to hear the song once the album officially drops.

Others wondered whether the lyrics are genuinely provocative or whether the ruling might simply involve a few phrases considered too aggressive for Korean public broadcasting standards.

Because KBS review standards can sometimes be stricter than international streaming platforms, songs blocked from broadcast are still often released normally through digital services. In many cases, entertainment companies later submit edited versions with modified lyrics in order to secure TV broadcast approval.

Still, the situation has unexpectedly created additional hype around “Saki (ft. Aliyah’s Interlude)” specifically.

Among K-pop fans, songs labeled “banned by KBS” frequently gain extra attention precisely because people become curious about what was considered controversial enough to trigger restrictions. Online discussions are already treating the track as the album’s potential “wild card” even before anyone has actually heard it.

Some fans are also connecting the controversy to LE SSERAFIM’s increasingly bold musical direction.

Over the past few years, the group has built a reputation for confident, aggressive concepts and lyrics centered around self-assurance, independence and rebellion against expectations. Because of that image, some fans believe the controversial lyrics may intentionally push boundaries rather than simply containing accidental profanity.

At the same time, others are cautioning against overreacting before the full context of the song becomes available.

KBS censorship decisions can sometimes involve relatively minor wording issues rather than genuinely shocking content. In the past, songs have failed review over slang, indirect profanity or phrases interpreted as inappropriate for younger audiences despite sounding fairly tame by international standards.

Still, the ruling has undeniably succeeded in getting fans talking.

Instead of hurting anticipation for PUREFLOW pt.1, the controversy appears to be increasing curiosity surrounding the album. Many fans online are now specifically waiting to see whether “Saki (ft. Aliyah’s Interlude)” lives up to the dramatic reactions already surrounding it.

Meanwhile, the unusual review note attached to “Liminal Space” also became a small viral talking point itself, with fans amused by KBS reportedly dismissing the track as “a conversation, not a song.”

With the album release only days away, LE SSERAFIM is now entering comeback week with exactly the kind of buzz most K-pop groups hope for: mystery, controversy and nonstop online speculation.