The controversy surrounding the personal life of Joohaknyeon, a former member of the boy group The Boyz, has escalated beyond a mere incident, revealing the seriousness of the situation through the official apology of the agency's chairman, the severing of ties with collaborative brands, and police investigations. Eventually, even members of The Boyz were seen unfollowing Joohaknyeon's SNS account, effectively indicating a 'severing of ties'.
On the night of the 18th, Cha Gawon, the head of the agency One Hundred, personally issued a press release, saying, 'I sincerely apologize for causing deep concern to fans and the public due to various circumstances related to our artists and members.' He continued, 'I humbly accept that our internal management regarding personal life and attitude was inadequate,' and promised to improve ethical awareness and internal systems.
The background for the unusual apology from the chairman stems from the fallout of the personal life controversy surrounding Joohaknyeon. Just two days after announcing a sudden halt of activities for 'personal reasons' on the 16th, reports surfaced capturing him with former adult film actress Asuka Kirara at a drinking party and in intimate scenes, placing him at the center of controversy. Some media even raised allegations of prostitution, to which Joohaknyeon denied through a handwritten letter in the early morning of the 19th, stating, 'No illegal activities took place,' but the trust of the fandom had already crumbled.
The first to sever ties was the collaborative brand. The global character brand 'Esther Bunny' announced the abrupt cancellation of the joint exhibition 'Esther Bunny Exhibition: Finding Myself' with The Boyz, stating, 'Due to unforeseen external circumstances, we regretfully had to cancel the exhibition after much consideration.' Full refunds were also announced. Industry insiders interpret that this is evidence that 'the idol's brand image has been shaken to a point where it can no longer continue to coexist.'
Following this, it was shared among fans that Joohaknyeon's Instagram was unfollowed by The Boyz's official account and member accounts, leading to the spread of indications of 'severing ties within the team.' This unfollowing occurred before an official announcement of his exit, suggesting that the members also withdrew their trust in him.
The incident has now expanded into a police investigation phase. On the 19th, an internet user reported Joohaknyeon through the National Report Center, and the case has been assigned to the Youth and Women's Investigation Team 4 of the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul. The complainant stated, 'This is not merely a personal life controversy but a structural issue within the entertainment industry,' asserting that, 'Not only should the violation of the Act on Punishment of Arrangement of Prostitution be investigated, but the possibility of involvement of the agency's former producer must also be examined.' He emphasized, 'The suspicion that an idol, who should inspire dreams in youth, is involved in prostitution cannot be minimized to a personal deviation.'
In fact, according to earlier reports, Joohaknyeon has been accused of engaging in prostitution during his stay in Japan and paying for sexual services. When evidence of related circumstances was presented, media reports claimed that he 'admitted to prostitution.' The agency stated, 'We will spare no support to ensure that the remaining members can carry on their activities without disruption,' but some analysts argue, 'This is not just a matter that will end with the departure of one member. This incident will leave significant aftershocks on the overall image of the group and their future activities.'
This incident has also raised questions regarding the ethics and overall system of the idol industry. The Joohaknyeon controversy leaves a critical wave not just affecting one individual's misconduct, but also impacting the team, brand, and the entire industry.
[Photo] OSEN DB, SNS
[OSEN]