Top 20 K-Pop Scandals Of All Time: Controversies That Shook The Industry 

The K-pop industry is continuously growing, creating beloved idols out of everyday people, but along with them also comes intense public scrutiny. There have been multiple scandals in the fast-growing industry of K-pop, including contractual disagreements, behavioral issues, and dating or relationship issues. The scandals involving legal and cyberbullying cases have resulted in the foundation of immense pressure on the artists by their respective entertainment agencies. This has not only damaged Idol’s career but also created an outcry among K-pop fandoms and South Korea as a whole. Here are the top 20 K-pop scandals of all time, mentioning exactly what happened and their impacts.

The Burning Sun Scandal (2019)

“A Nightclub Scandal Involving Celebrity Power And Corruption In South Korea”

The Burning Sun Scandal, or Burning Sun Gate, is one of the most shocking controversies in South Korea in 2019. As the name suggests, the incident took place at the Burning Sun nightclub in the Le Meridien hotel, Gangnam, Seoul. The club gained attention due to Seungri, a famous member of the BIGBANG group who was a director and investor of it.

On November 24, 2018, Kim Sang Kyo witnessed a woman being forcibly drugged and harassed by two men inside the club. As Kim showed his concern towards the lady, he was assaulted by club members and mistreated by police. Feeling that justice was denied, Kim filed a national petition to the Blue House. The president asked for strict investigations of the club and local police officers, which revealed that illegal activities were going on inside the club and were often covered up through the exchange of bribes and favors.

As the matter deepened, well-known K-pop idols were accused of illegal practices that they performed. It was believed Seungri was equally involved in the matter, even though he denied the accusations. The club’s staff and many K-pop idols faced backlash due to date-rape drugs, along with cases of sexual assault and rape, and the filming of illegal videos during drug use. Seungri announced his departure from the industry on March 11, 2019, after being charged with sexual bribery. Jung Joon-young also resigned on March 12, 2019, after confessing to secretly filming himself having sex with women and sharing the videos, without their knowledge or consent.

SBS FunE reported the discovery of videos, dates, and conversations between Jung and Seungri in chat groups on the social media app KakaoTalk. Furthermore, Yong Jun-hyung of Highlight and Choi Jong-hoon of F.T. Island also left the industry, as they were also equally involved in the chatroom. The agency for Lee Jong-hyun of CNBLUE admitted his involvement on March 15.

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T-ARA Bullying Controversy (2012)

“Misinformation Destroying A Top-Tier Girl Group Overnight!”

T-ARA’s bullying controversy began on July 25, 2012, through a Japanese tour, when a cryptic tweet saying “The difference in levels of determination. Let us have more determination. Fighting” was made by a member of T-ARA. Other group members also posted tweets targeting Hwayoung. The tweets were shared after a few days, and the group concert took place in Japan, where Hwayoung had to sit due to her injury. Fans noticed that Hwa Young, the newer member, was being ridiculed by other members. Incidents were gathered where members belittled her. On July 30, 2012, Hwayoung departed so she could continue her solo career. TARA took a long time to regain public support.

Hwa-Young talked about the scandal again in 2017, calling herself immature, while one of the staff members commented, “She always demanded to take care of personal tasks and didn’t work hard at all. Further, her chat logs were leaked, where Hwayoung was trying to intimidate the members. Her agency apologized on her behalf as Hwayoung accepted the messages to be true. Further, people started posting their personal experiences of working with Hwayoung and called her ill-mannered. In 2024, her old agency’s CEO told the real truth: Hwayoung’s misbehavior was the reason for her termination from TARA. In response, Hwayoung accepted her mistakes while sparking the debate to rise again after she commented on how she was mistreated by the members.

Park Bom Drug Investigation (2014)

“Prescription or Illegal Substance?”

The South Korean singer Park Bom is best known as a member of the girl group 2NE1. She began her career in 2006 under YG Entertainment. The Park Bom drug investigation scandal took place in 2014, when Park Bom had been under investigation for attempting to bring 82 pills of Adderall through international mail in the past. It is a drug that was illegal in South Korea but legal in the United States.

She was under investigation but was never charged. Reports stated that she hid the pills as jelly and mailed the package to her grandma. But Yang Hun Sule had revealed in his letter that Park Bom was under medication, which was prescribed by the hospital in the States for a trauma that happened when she was young. At that time, due to her busy schedule, she was unable to travel for her treatment, so her grandma and mom received the pills for safekeeping.

At the end, Park Bom was not punished because the police accepted the evidence that it was for her health treatment, which she proved by showing medical papers. Recently, in 2014, Park Bom opened up about her drug scandal for the first time to her fans. She explained that the truth was different from the news reported and that she wanted to clear the misunderstanding about the scandal by holding her own reality show, which she did later on.

IU and Eunhyuk Photo Controversy (2014)

“Privacy vs. Public Persona”

The controversy gained attention when, in November, IU “accidentally” uploaded a picture of her and Super Junior’s Eunhyuk to her Twitter. Eunhyuk seemed shirtless while both of them were sharing a bed. Due to criticism that followed the incident, people started saying that they were getting married or that she was. LOEN threatened legal action against people who started those rumors. Even a funny comic was created about it, and IU pushed back variety show appearances for a couple of months. Eunhyuk also faced a huge backlash for the picture.

After all the online drama, IU’s agency came forward and announced, “The revealed photo was from this summer when IU was very sick and Eunhyuk had come to visit her at her home, and it was taken then when they sat on the sofa together; it was revealed to the outside due to IU’s mistake through her related photo uploading service while IU was making a mention on Twitter. IU is sincerely sorry for bringing harm to her sunbae Eunhyuk due to her error.”

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Kris Wu’s Getting Arrested

“Pop Lover or P*rn Lover?”

Chinese-Canadian pop star and former K-pop idol Kris Wu’s lawsuit and criminal case are one of the most controversial scandals of all time. He was accused of inviting women to alcohol-fueled karaoke parties and date rape by a student, and gathering people to commit adultery (group sex) before 24 more victims spoke out. His student, Du Meizhu, was the first one to accuse her, and she posted how she was invited to a party at his home, where she was pressured to drink alcohol and woke up in his bed the next day. The singer also faces a 600m yuan (£69m) tax evasion fine as he used a fictitious business to make false declarations about his worldwide income.

Currently, he is jailed. A sentence of one year and 10 months for “gathering people to commit adultery” was made by the court, and an additional 11 years and six months for “raping three women at his home in 2020.”

Sulli and Cyberbullying Crisis

“Hate Turned Into Death”

In the industry, which often appreciates the performers for their silence off stage, K-pop star Sulli was a rebel. She laughed when she wanted to laugh and cried when she wanted to cry. She brazenly spoke out. She didn’t fit the mold. She entered the Korean entertainment scene in 2005 when she was just 11 years old as a trainee under SM Entertainment. Soon, she decided to leave the group, as the agency said, “She is suffering physically and mentally from malicious and untrue rumors spreading about her.”

In 2018, she returned to singing, releasing a solo debut single with SM, and stood out for her outspokenness. She confidently spoke out on mental health issues, cyberbullying, and women’s rights—issues that remain sensitive in a conservative society like South Korea. She was found dead on 14 October 2019 at her home; reports say it was suicide. Her death was later linked to cyberbullying she faced online by many netizens, because she was ridiculed for her romantic relationship at the height of her career as a member of top girl group f(x) and was vocal about not wearing a bra, reflecting conservative social attitudes towards young women.

Jung Joon-young Case (2019)

“Hidden Cameras And Celebrities’ Chatroom”

Jung Joon’s case involves a high-profile sex scandal that involved male celebrities. It emerged at the height of a local #MeToo movement, when thousands of women protested in the capital, Seoul, in 2018, chanting, “My life is not your p*rn.” During the Burning Sun scandal, Seungri was found to have received Jung’s molka videos and was later separately found guilty of multiple charges linked to sex and drugs.

Later, the investigation made by the higher authorities found him guilty of rape on two occasions in 2016 and of filming himself having intercourse with other women without their knowledge and sharing the footage without their consent. Eventually, he went to prison for five years for gang rape, illicit filming, and sharing those filmed videos in a chat group.

Produce 101 Vote Manipulation

“Manufactured Idols?”

In 2017, 101 trainees participated in Produce 101 Season 2 so they could debut in the boy K-pop band. The idols were supposed to be chosen by the audience’s vote for each member. After 2 years of the debut of Wanna One, it was claimed that Mnet had falsified votes and rankings to manipulate the show’s trajectory. 272 viewers filed a lawsuit against Mnet, as their on-site text voting service charged 100 won per vote, prompting an investigation led by the Seoul Metropolitan Police.

Next, the court revealed that Seong Hyunwoo was ranked 61st in the fifth episode; his votes had actually been manipulated, and he was unfairly eliminated from the show. Similarly, Kang Dongho, who ranked 13th in the show’s finale, missing a spot in Wanna One by two places, was also unfairly eliminated. Due to the scandal that gained attention worldwide, Mnet has stated it will not be producing any more “debut reality”-type shows. 

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AOA Mina vs Jimin

“Long-Term Bullying Allegations”

AOA group member Mina accused the group leader, Jimin, of being one of four alleged victims bullied by her. The scandal rose quick attraction as the members have been working together for more than 10 years, and no such serious issue had taken place before. In early 2020, Mina made a series of posts and comments accusing Jimin of bullying her for 10 years. Jimin denied it, but Mina continued the posts, accusing Jimin more. In addition to this, Mina also posted a photo of her scarred wrist as proof that she had attempted suicide due to the bullying.

As a result, Jimin left AOA and wrote the word “novel” on her Instagram story in response, believed to be a dismissal of Kwon’s allegations, but later deleted the post. In July 2022, Shin Jimin attempted a comeback, signing an exclusive contract with Alomalo Entertainment and releasing the album ‘Boxes’, but did not gather much attention.

TVXQ Contract Lawsuit (2009) 

“The Case That Exposed Reality Of Idols’ Contracts”

TVXQ became one of SM’s largest revenue pillars by occupying the Korean, Japanese, and eventually Asian markets. But what made it solid was the lawsuit filed by JYJ mentioning unfavorable profit distribution, little transparency, extreme schedules, and strict 13-year contract norms.

The lawyers of three members argued that no personal freedom was given to them, and members did not control their earnings, and even had no power to question it. Jae Jun suffered from chronic fatigue, Junsu had vocal cord issues, and Yunsu struggled with mental health issues. Through the lawsuit, members weren’t fighting for work but actually for their well-being. This shaped contracts for future idols in their favor. The settlements were private.

Kim Garam School Bullying Case 

“A Debut Overshadowed By Allegations, Documents, and Public Scrutiny”

A major controversy took place when Le Sserafim, a famous South Korean girl group, announced that one of its members, Kim Ga-ram, would no longer be part of the group following accusations that she was involved in bullying incidents at school. According to the label, they will continue their activities as a five-member group. Immediately after Ga-ram was announced as a member, an array of allegations about Ga-ram’s behavior in school began to spread on forums and social media.

The news spread, highlighting Ga-ram and others in front of a chalkboard covered in drawings of naked figures, genitals, and sex acts. People started commenting on how she used to bully her schoolmates physically and mentally, and showcase her negative side. While Kim denied the allegations, no one is able to fix her damaged reputation except her true fans.

Irene Attitude Controversy

“Power Dynamics In The Workspace”

Red Velvet member Irene found herself at the center of allegations for her misbehavior and attitude towards the staff members. It all began when, on October 20, the fashion editor in question wrote a lengthy Instagram post that clearly highlighted Irene’s raw and careless behavior. The editor wrote statements like, “I experienced 20 minutes of hell in an unfamiliar room. She didn’t care to greet us and sat in her chair with her phone in her hand as she hysterically threw a fit at me. Tears rolled down my face even before I could realize it was embarrassing to cry in front of others.

‘What am I doing this for? To prove what? To make money?” Later, after Irene faced a severe backlash, the agency and Irene herself apologized for her behavior. The company stated that she met the stylist in person and sincerely apologized for the pain she caused the stylist due to her careless attitude, emotional outbursts, and actions. Her official statement on social media accounts met with mixed reactions from the Internet.

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Lucas Gaslighting Allegations

“Manipulative Behavior and Badmouthing”

Lucas, a famous Hong Kong-born member of K-pop boy group NCT, decided to put off his musical activities. The reason behind his hiatus was a following by a gaslighting cheating scandal, which accused him of gaslighting. On August 23, 2021, a Korean fan, who claimed to be Lucas’s ex-girlfriend, stated publicly that she was manipulated by the K-pop star over the past few years when they were dating, and how Lucas used her for money.

A Third Alleged Victim Of WayV Lucas’ Gaslighting Scandal Has Spoken Up – Here’s The Full Translation
by u/galaxystars1 in kpop

Two more Chinese fans brought similar allegations to the fore, claiming the K-pop star cheated on them. What was actually surprising for fans was that Lucas accepted those allegations and gave an official statement, claiming, “I want to express my apology in person if I am given an opportunity. What I did in the past was wrong and irresponsible. I will make sure that an incident like this does not recur… I will go on a hiatus (from today) to take time to reflect on myself.” “Lucas is deeply reflecting on himself for failing people,” the company added.

G-Dragon Marijuana Case

“Small Amount But Huge Headlines”

While in 2011, Big Bang’s return from an extended hiatus made the fans excited, at the same time, G-Dragon found himself embroiled in a drug case in Japan. On October 5, 2011, an article was posted which stated that G-DRAGON had been investigated for smoking marijuana, shocking fans and the public. As marijuana is illegal in South Korea, this incident put G-Dragon in deep trouble. Although G-Dragon’s urine test came out negative, a hair test indicated the presence of marijuana.

Later, as the incident escalated, it was found that he mistakenly believed it to be regular cigarettes and did not intentionally smoke marijuana. “G-DRAGON was intoxicated at the time and could not distinguish between marijuana and cigarettes,” exclaimed the agency.

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Jessica Jung SNSD Exit

“Sudden Goodbye Leaving Fans Shocked”

Jessica Jung is an American and South Korean singer-songwriter, actress, author, and businesswoman. She is best known as a former member of the South Korean girl group Girls’ Generation. News went viral in 2014 when Jessica accused her group members and the agency of forcing her out of the group. Jessica accused her label, SM Entertainment, of unfairly dismissing her from the group without any warning. Fans were not at all ready to believe the announcement; many thought that the account had been hacked. A few hours later, SM Entertainment confirmed that Jessica would no longer be a part of the band as she recently launched her own fashion brand, BLANC.

Later, she stated in an interview, “I have received great pain and cannot hide my sadness when I was asked by the agency and my fellow members, whom I’ve spent 15 years with, putting in all my passion and efforts, to leave Girls’ Generation just because I am starting my own business.”

Woojin Stray Kids Allegations

“Viral Allegations, Silence, and Misinformation”

On September 7, 2020, two users made sexual assault and harassment allegations through a tweet against Stray Kids’ Woojin. The user did not name Woojin as their assaulter but wrote that the idol is not a part of any K-pop group. Speculations were made online where Woojin was the suspect, as he left the K-pop group Stray Kids and its label JYP Entertainment suddenly in October 2019.

Hours later, a second anonymous user came forward and shared that they had been sexually harassed by Woojin in a bar on April 29th. This caused widespread discussions surrounding Woojin; eventually, he had to face backlash. Later, Woojin broke his silence on the sexual harassment allegations, stating it’s not true at all, and Twitter users often make up stories. He added that he was shocked to see that his name was dragged without any wrongdoing. But this was not the end; he was criticized for being “dishonest” and “insensitive.” Investigations were made, which proved Woojin was innocent and the claims were fake.

HyunA and Dawn Dating Controversy

“Love vs. Contracts”

Dating remains a big no-no in the K-pop industry, as the contracts issued by the company strictly ban dating. In August 2018, Hyuna, who has always been an outspoken idol, revealed her and Dawn’s relationship on her Instagram account, stating that she wanted to be honest with her fans.

Eventually, a statement from Cube Entertainment revealed the decision to terminate Hyuna’s contract, and after a month, Dawn’s ties with the agency were terminated too. This decision by the company drew criticism, with fans stating, “Idols are human beings who can fall in love and date, too.”

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Tablo Academic Controversy

“When The Truth Isn’t Enough”

The Tablo Academic Controversy is a story of globalization and capitalism and elitism and anger. In 2010, a major controversy arose related to rapper Daniel Lee’s academic information. Lee, known by his rap name Tablo, claimed to have graduated from Stanford in 3.5 years.

Critics and netizens highlighted online that it was highly unlikely for someone to graduate so quickly, causing a large-scale backlash. In response, Tablo cleared his name by traveling to Stanford and obtaining a copy of his transcript from admissions workers who recognized him and greeted him with friendly enthusiasm.

Wonho Allegations and Departure from MONSTA X

“Exit To Redemption Arc”

At the end of 2019, Monsta X, the seven-member K-pop boy band, had been reduced to six after Wonho left the group following rumors that he had smoked marijuana and had multiple bad debts. His silence and departure from the group acted as a confirmation of the above allegations placed on him.

After months of legal investigations and protests, the news about the former Monsta X member was shared by Korean entertainment label Starship Entertainment on March 14, 2020, sharing a statement that Wonho had been cleared of all charges by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency this week.

Fifty-Fifty Contract Dispute

“Rookie Success meets Legal Dispute.”

Fifty Fifty, an emerging K-pop group under Attrakt, faced a setback when three members—Saena, Aran, and Sio—chose to terminate their contracts prematurely.  Apart from this, Attrakt alleged breaches of contract by the members, resulting in financial and reputational harm to the agency.

Criminal charges were filed by Attrakt against Ahn and three others for fraud, breach of duty, and obstruction of business. The Seoul Central District Court sided with Attrakt, and Saena, Aran, and Sio were terminated from the group, while Keena withdrew her lawsuit and returned to Attrakt.

Final Thoughts: Power, Media, and Fandom Influence Scandals

The common themes that led to the scandals included inequities of power between idols and agencies, media exaggerating narratives based on public perception, and fandom influence. Various incidents have highlighted how the K-pop industry is no longer isolated but seems to be changing as it is continuously scrutinized. To conclude, many of these K-pop scandals led to reform and justice, while others show how instantly misinformation can ruin one’s reputation. One advantage of this situation is how transparency and accountability are increasing in the industry.

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