Jo Haknyeon, non-prosecution disposition for prostitution allegations... Will new developments arise as Asuka Kirara reiterates clarification?

The controversy surrounding former The Boyz member Jo Haknyeon and Asuka Kirara is reaching a new turning point. Jo Haknyeon received a 'non-prosecution' disposition regarding the allegations, while Asuka Kirara has also repeatedly clarified her position, expressing her grievance. Changes in public sentiment, which had been leaning toward one-sided criticism, are now detected.

The controversy began with reports that Jo Haknyeon met former adult video actress influencer Asuka Kirara at a private drinking party in Tokyo, Japan, on June 18. At that time, his agency, One Hundred, stated that his hiatus was due to "personal reasons," but as suspicions arose that Jo Haknyeon had paid for sexual services at the gathering, the situation intensified.

Two days later, on June 20, the agency officially announced his departure from the team and the termination of his contract. Jo Haknyeon strongly denied the allegations, stating in a handwritten statement, “It is true that I was at a drinking party with acquaintances, but there were absolutely no occurrences of prostitution or illegal acts as reported.” He added, “The fear that I could be branded as a prostitution criminal for life has grown, so I have filed a lawsuit against the reporter for false reporting and plan to respond to the accuser with charges of false accusation,” announcing a strong defense.

Asuka Kirara also actively clarified, stating, “I have never received money for sexual acts, not even once,” and “This incident is no different.” On the 1st, she once again explained through an SNS live broadcast, “I met Jo Haknyeon for the first time that day, and there was no physical contact. I don’t understand why it turned into a story of prostitution.”

Then, on the 2nd, there was a decisive development. According to the Gangnam Police Station, the 'prostitution allegations' against Jo Haknyeon have been confirmed to have received a non-prosecution disposition. The police stated, “The accuser's claims are based on internet articles, and there are insufficient specific circumstances or reasons to initiate an investigation.” Thus, the investigation authorities do not acknowledge the core issue of whether prostitution occurred, and the case seems to have entered a new phase.

In this situation, subtle changes in internet user reactions are also being detected. Initially, the criticism focused on statements like, “He was careless as a celebrity,” and “His departure from the team is a result of his own actions,” but recently there have been increasing opinions such as, “It seems excessive to expel him when there are no actual investigation results,” and “Wasn't it too much to push him with one-sided rumors?” However, cautious viewpoints remain strong. Some fans maintain that “Even if a legal non-prosecution has been issued, just being present at that gathering will inevitably affect his image,” upholding a strict standard regarding his attitude and decorum as an idol.

Meanwhile, Jo Haknyeon is pursuing legal action against the media outlet that reported the prostitution allegations and against the agency, One Hundred. The agency is also preparing a response, stating, “The termination of the contract was a decision made following a legitimate procedure.” While a legal judgment has been made, the controversy is not yet resolved. However, this 'non-prosecution disposition' could clearly be a turning point for Jo Haknyeon and Asuka Kirara, who have been expressing their grievances, drawing attention to future developments.

[OSEN]

※ This article has been translated by AI. Share your feedback here.