Ju Haknyeon thrown out of K-pop band THE BOYZ after shocking AV star scandal: Full controversy explained

Popular K-pop group THE BOYZ has been hit with one of its most turbulent chapters yet, following a string of controversies that culminated in the expulsion of member Ju Haknyeon. The scandal, which began with images of Haknyeon meeting former Japanese adult film star Kirara Asuka, has rapidly expanded into a broader reckoning across the K-pop industry — dragging in multiple idol groups and raising questions about conduct, accountability, and transparency.

Ju Haknyeon exits THE BOYZ after Tokyo hotel scandal

Ju Haknyeon’s exit was confirmed by THE BOYZ’s agency, ONE HUNDRED, on June 18. The decision came after weeks of speculation around his absence, which was initially explained as a temporary hiatus for “personal reasons.” But the agency later cited a breakdown of trust between Haknyeon and the label, leading to the termination of his exclusive contract and removal from the group.

This move followed the circulation of photos showing Haknyeon at a Tokyo hotel with AV actress Kirara Asuka on May 30. The images sparked widespread backlash online, with rumours of illegal conduct — including allegations of prostitution — beginning to swirl.

Denial of prostitution allegations, handwritten apology to fans

In response to the growing controversy, Ju Haknyeon took to Instagram Stories on June 19 to issue a handwritten apology and clarify his position.

“On May 30, 2025, it is true that I attended a private drinking gathering with an acquaintance and that I was present at that place. However, I want to completely false that I have ever engaged in prostitution or any illegal activity as reported in the articles or rumours. I am deeply reflecting on my actions and would like to sincerely apologise to those who were shocked by this.”

His statement came just hours after an individual filed an official complaint at the Gangnam Police Station, accusing Haknyeon of violating Article 4 of South Korea’s prostitution law — part of the Act on the Punishment of Arranging Sexual Traffic. According to reports by Nate News, the complainant also urged police to investigate whether others in the entertainment industry were involved, implying that the scandal may be wider than initially thought.

Official response from agency ONE HUNDRED

Following Haknyeon’s departure, ONE HUNDRED issued a public statement accepting responsibility and pledging better oversight:

“Hello, this is One Hundred. We recently took action to suspend Ju Haknyeon’s activities as soon as we were informed that he was involved in a controversial incident in order to take time to thoroughly investigate and verify the facts. As a result of our investigation, we have recognized the severity of the issue and have taken it seriously. We have realized that it has become difficult to maintain our trust in him as an artist.

Due to this, after sufficient discussions with the members of THE BOYZ, we have decided that Ju Haknyeon will be withdrawing from the group and that his exclusive contract will be terminated. We kindly ask for your understanding that this decision was an inevitable decision made to protect the members of THE BOYZ and the group as a whole.

We are informing you that as of today, Ju Haknyeon will no longer be part of THE BOYZ and will cease all activities with the group. One Hundred Label will spare no effort in fully supporting the remaining members of THE BOYZ so that they can continue to promote in a healthy and stable state. Once again, we sincerely apologize for causing concern to the fans and we will do our best to repay the fans with better news and promotions in the future.Thank you”

The company also confirmed that THE BOYZ would continue promotions as a 10-member group.

THE BOYZ members address fans directly

After the announcement, remaining members of THE BOYZ reached out to their fanbase, known as THE B, to express remorse. Member Juyeon said, “We know how heavy and confusing today must have felt. We’re deeply sorry.”

Fellow member Sunwoo shared a longer message promising to reflect and grow: “I will reflect on past mistakes and work on becoming a better person.” This comes in the wake of his own scandal, as Sunwoo was recently accused of partying with underage influencers at a club.

Partying allegations implicate other idols and groups

The controversy surrounding THE BOYZ has since widened to include other top K-pop groups. Screenshots of chat messages surfaced on social media platform Threads between June 10 and 11, allegedly showing female influencers detailing wild parties with idols from ASTRO, ATEEZ, MONSTA X, ENHYPEN, and Stray Kids.

One influencer wrote about partying with ASTRO’s MJ and Cha Eun-woo, while another named THE BOYZ members Hyunjae and Sangyeon, claiming they repeatedly called her “baby” and urged her to drink more.

In a separate instance, ATEEZ’s Song Mingi was accused of using a fake identity during the same party, claiming he worked at a skincare clinic. MONSTA X’s Hyungwon was also pulled into the mess through allegations that his ex-girlfriend is now dating THE BOYZ’s Sunwoo. An alleged chat stated: “The girl Hyungwon from MONSTA X was dating switched over to Kim Sunwoo, so Minhyuk went to the waiting room and told Kim Sunwoo to get his act together.”

Rumours also linked Juyeon to actresses Shin Si-A and Roh Yoon-Seo, claiming he shared a hotel room with Roh during a Balenciaga event in Shanghai.

THE BOYZ agency threatens legal action

In an earlier statement dated June 11, ONE HUNDRED addressed the rising wave of accusations.

"We recently took action to suspend Ju Haknyeon’s activities as soon as we were informed that he was involved in a controversial incident in order to take time to thoroughly investigate and verify the facts... We are informing you that as of today, Ju Haknyeon will no longer be part of THE BOYZ and will cease all activities with the group."

The agency promised to protect the rest of the members and continue their activities in a “healthy and stable” environment, adding that legal measures would be taken against the spread of false information.

Industry rocked by multiple controversies

Ju Haknyeon’s scandal comes just as other major K-pop stars are facing their own legal troubles. On June 18, former NCT 127 member Taeil appeared for his first court hearing, facing aggravated rape charges alongside two acquaintances. The prosecution also presented disturbing chat messages from before the alleged crime.

What started as a controversy involving one member of THE BOYZ has now grown into a broader scandal implicating several artists across the K-pop industry. While some fans remain supportive, others feel betrayed by the actions and silence of their favourite idols.