"From AV actress to winning the Korea Arts and Culture Award"... Asuka Kirara remains silent amid prostitution allegations against Ju Hak-nyeon, reviving identity laundering controversy.

With Ju Hak-nyeon's abrupt departure from The Boyz due to prostitution allegations, attention is focused on the past and current activities of Japanese former AV actress Asuka Kirara, who is at the center of the controversy.

Asuka Kirara posted a behind-the-scenes video showing her being photographed in a short miniskirt on her SNS on the 18th. In the video, she shared a calm and relaxed daily life by flashing a peace sign at the camera and smiling brightly, appearing to keep a distance from the controversy.

However, on the same day, it was reported through a questionnaire from the Japanese weekly magazine Shūkan Bunshun that Ju Hak-nyeon and Asuka Kirara enjoyed a secret date at a private bar in Tokyo at the end of last month. According to local reports, they were said to have engaged in physical contact, such as hugging and resting their chins on each other's shoulders, which intensified the controversy.

The controversy did not stop there. Some media outlets alleged that Ju Hak-nyeon did not just have a casual meeting but was involved in prostitution, and it was reported that although he initially denied it, he eventually admitted it when circumstantial evidence was presented. Afterward, on the 19th, Ju Hak-nyeon denied the claims of any illegal activities in a handwritten letter and apologized.

As anger among fans grew over the incident, public interest and criticism towards Asuka Kirara are also increasing.

Asuka Kirara debuted as an AV actress in 2007 and gained remarkable popularity in the adult video industry in Japan. She announced her retirement in 2020 and has since been active as an influencer and model in Japan and Asia.

Notably, in 2023, she appeared on an official Korean stage by receiving a special award in the overseas model sector at the 11th Korea Arts and Culture Award ceremony, which has sparked controversy. The fact that she, despite her past as an AV actress, received an award at a Korean arts award ceremony led some internet users to criticize, "Is this not identity laundering?", and "Is this an award ceremony without standards?"

However, Asuka Kirara, who is at the center of the controversy, has not offered any explanations or positions as of now and continues to share her daily life on SNS, maintaining a calm demeanor. Her personal account has received numerous negative comments demanding clarity regarding the allegations with Ju Hak-nyeon, along with remarks urging her to demonstrate a responsible attitude.

Internet users expressed cold reactions, saying, "Ju Hak-nyeon at least offered an explanation in handwriting, but what about Asuka?", "I am angry at her attitude of not recognizing the controversy", "She hid her past career, and now she even received a model award through identity laundering."

Meanwhile, The Boyz's agency, Wonder Entertainment, officially announced the termination of Ju Hak-nyeon's contract and his departure from the team, stating, "We have judged that restoring trust is impossible." The agency head, Cha Ga-won, also issued an official apology, saying, "I feel responsible for managing the private lives and attitudes of our artists."

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