The AV actress prostitution allegations against former The Boyz member Jo Hak-nyeon have entered a new phase. As Jo Hak-nyeon claimed that his agency had wrongfully terminated his contract and launched a series of revelations, the agency immediately countered, stating it was a matter of evading responsibility and false claims. Now, the positions of both sides are sharply clashing.
▲ AV actress private meeting, suspicions of prostitution in the process
At the end of last month, it was reported that Jo Hak-nyeon had a private meeting with former AV actress Asuka Kirara at a private bar in Tokyo, Japan. As a result, a netizen filed a complaint with the National Police Agency, requesting an investigation into Jo Hak-nyeon’s 'overseas prostitution allegations' and the agency's possible involvement, leading to the initiation of a police investigation. The complainant claimed that Jo Hak-nyeon engaged in prostitution and that there were circumstances admitting to payment.
Two days before the incident became known, his agency, One Hundred, announced the suspension of Jo Hak-nyeon's activities, stating, "We have taken the seriousness of this matter seriously and have clearly recognized that it is a situation where we cannot maintain trust as an artist," and finalized Jo Hak-nyeon's withdrawal from the team and the termination of his exclusive contract after discussions with the members of The Boyz.
In response, Jo Hak-nyeon denied, "I have never engaged in prostitution or any illegal activities," while also stating, "I deeply reflect on my actions and would like to sincerely apologize to those who may have been shocked."
▲ Jo Hak-nyeon strongly refutes prostitution allegations... agency revelations
Jo Hak-nyeon launched a counterattack. On the 20th, he warned via his social media, "Despite already stating my clear position that I have not engaged in any illegal activities, I will take all legal measures against some journalists and media outlets that continue to write malicious articles," and added, "If there is evidence that I engaged in prostitution, please disclose it immediately."
Additionally, Jo Hak-nyeon claimed that he had not agreed to withdraw from the team and had not consented to the termination of the exclusive contract, asserting that the agency was trying to make it appear as if there were grounds for termination despite there being none specified in the contract, and he demanded over 2 billion won in damages and asked the company to let him go.
In particular, Jo Hak-nyeon emphasized that the agency's announcement to the media about the confirmation of the contract termination, despite having never accepted it, was "a clear falsehood," and he strongly criticized, "To unilaterally expel me from the team just because I shared a private space with a well-known person and to demand over 2 billion won in damages while urging the termination of the contract, I want to question whether this is truly the attitude of an agency that should protect its artists."
Jo Hak-nyeon expressed, "I am very scared, but I felt that if I give in here, this society could become a place where those without power can be collapsed by actions they did not even do," and vowed to fight until the truth is revealed.
▲ One Hundred, rebutting Jo Hak-nyeon's claims... the truth game begins
In response to Jo Hak-nyeon's claims, One Hundred immediately issued a rebuttal, further intensifying the confrontation between the two sides. One Hundred stated on the 20th, "We express deep regret over the unilateral false claims made by Mr. Jo Hak-nyeon."
The agency emphasized the legitimacy of the contract termination, stating, "We recognized that this matter involving Jo Hak-nyeon would cause significant damage to team activities and therefore made the decision to suspend his activities. We have since thoroughly assessed the situation and made our determinations based on the clause in Article 6, Section 3 of the exclusive contract stating, 'Acts that damage the dignity of public cultural artists to the extent that they disrupt entertainment activities' as grounds for termination of the contract."
Furthermore, they strongly criticized Jo Hak-nyeon, stating, "The essence of this matter lies in Mr. Jo Hak-nyeon's evasion of responsibility and repeated distorted claims," and warned that if Jo Hak-nyeon's claims persist, "The agency and our artists will take all legal measures to prevent damages and will submit evidence and documentation to judicial authorities."
The agency indicated that after this statement, it will not provide any further comments regarding Jo Hak-nyeon's claims, and that the activities of The Boyz, excluding Jo Hak-nyeon, will continue as scheduled.
▲ A fierce 'truth battle'… heading to court
The controversy surrounding Jo Hak-nyeon has transformed into a complicated legal battle with the agency and a 'truth battle.' Jo Hak-nyeon claims he was unjustly expelled, questioning the agency's responsible attitude, while the agency emphasizes that the contract termination was justified, stating that Jo Hak-nyeon has consistently evaded responsibility and repeated false claims. As the positions of both sides sharply diverge, this incident is likely to lead to additional legal disputes aside from the police investigation. The attention of K-pop fans is focused on what truth will be revealed in court and how this controversy will conclude.
[OSEN]