Joo Haknyeon, a former member of The Boyz, who was embroiled in a prostitution scandal, has completely denied the allegations, but the controversy is growing. A netizen filed a complaint against Joo through the National Report Center, and with the case being assigned to the police, an investigation has commenced.

On the 19th, the National Report Center received a complaint stating, "Please investigate the allegations of Joo Haknyeon's overseas prostitution and whether any personnel from his agency are involved."

The complainant asserted, "This is not merely a personal scandal but a structural issue in the entertainment industry," adding, "According to reports, Joo Haknyeon is suspected of engaging in prostitution while staying in Japan and has acknowledged circumstances where he paid for sexual services. This constitutes a violation of the Act on the Punishment of Sexual Traffic and Related Acts. A former producer of his agency was also excluded from work due to issues related to prostitution. Investigations should be conducted into whether there was direct involvement, complicity, or acquiescence."

"This matter cannot be minimized as a personal deviation. There needs to be an expanded investigation into whether idols, agency staff, freelance producers, Japanese intermediaries, and others were organizedly involved. It is socially irresponsible for an idol, who should convey dreams and hopes to youth, to be implicated in prostitution," he emphasized.

On the afternoon of the day the complaint was made public, the Women's and Youth Division of the Seoul Gangnam Police Station announced, "The case you requested has been assigned to the 4th team of the Women's Investigation unit at the Seoul Gangnam Police Station. We will strive to uncover the factual truth of the case through a fair and stringent investigation."

On the 18th, it was confirmed that Joo Haknyeon had a private meeting with former AV actress Asuka Kirara at a private bar in Tokyo at the end of last month. This came just two days after his agency, 1Hundred, announced without further details that Joo Haknyeon would temporarily suspend activities due to personal circumstances.

According to a query from the Japanese media Shūkan Bunshun, Joo Haknyeon visited a bar in Roppongi with Japanese acquaintances on the night of the 19th and was seen in the company of Asuka Kirara until the early morning of the following day. Joo Haknyeon and Asuka Kirara were reportedly seen embracing and resting their chins on each other’s shoulders. Asuka Kirara debuted as an AV actress in December 2007 and has been active as an influencer since retiring in February 2020.

Under current law, Article 21 of the Act on the Punishment of Prostitution and Related Acts states that anyone engaging in prostitution may face imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 3 million won. According to domestic law, Korean nationals are subject to punishment even if they engage in prostitution overseas.

In response, Joo Haknyeon refuted, "I was present at a gathering with acquaintances on May 30, 2025, and while it is true that I was there, I have not engaged in any prostitution or illegal activities as mentioned in articles or rumors. I am deeply reflecting on my actions and sincerely apologize to those who might have been shocked."

1Hundred, Joo Haknyeon's agency, stated, "We took action to suspend Joo Haknyeon as soon as we received information that he was involved in a privacy issue, and we spent time closely confirming the facts. As a result, we acknowledged the seriousness of the matter and clearly recognized that it would be difficult to maintain trust as an artist. Consequently, after sufficient discussions with the members of The Boyz, we finalised Joo Haknyeon's withdrawal from the team and termination of his exclusive contract."

Despite this, public sentiment remains cold. Many individuals who are disappointed by the allegations of K-pop idols engaging in prostitution overseas are expressing their rejection and skepticism in various ways.

그럼에도 여론은 싸늘한 상태다. K팝 아이돌이 해외에서 성매매를 했다는 의혹에 크게 실망한 이들이 여러 방향으로 거부감과 회의감을 드러내고 있다.

[OSEN]