Ju Hak Nyeon, a former member of "The Boyz," has publicly spoken out about the prostitution scandal that led to him being dismissed from the group.
In a candid and emotional statement, the 26-year-old former idol alleged that his agency, One Hundred Entertainment, failed to protect him against the allegations and had instead terminated his contract in June of 2025.
The scandal erupted in June when Japanese tabloid Shukan Bunshun published photographs of the idol meeting with former Japanese adult film actress Asuka Kirara in Tokyo's Roppongi district in late May. Industry insiders subsequently claimed to media outlets that he had paid for sex, allegations that shook the K-pop world.
Notably, Ju Hak Nyeon had voluntarily disclosed the photographs to One Hundred Entertainment before the media broke the story, seeking the company's assistance in damage control. However, the situation deteriorated rapidly after his initial disclosure, he told Billboard.
When confronted by the agency with evidence during their internal investigation, he acknowledged meeting Asuka but consistently denied engaging in prostitution. He was later presented a termination agreement demanding he pay over 2 billion Korean won—approximately $1.4 million—in compensation and penalties, despite these figures exceeding what their contract permitted.
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"I said I wouldn't sign it, that I couldn't agree to this amount. Realistically, if I paid this, it would be the end of my life. I would go bankrupt," he said in the statement.
Within days, One Hundred Entertainment announced his removal from The Boyz and contract termination on June 18, citing damage to the group's reputation. The agency later amended its lawsuit, escalating its demands to nearly 8 billion won—approximately $5.5 million—without explanation.
In his statement, the idol said he believes the agency deliberately leaked the photographs he presented to them to Shukan Bunshun's publication to justify his removal from the group.
The police cleared Ju Hak Nyeon of charges in July 2025 due to insufficient evidence. He has since filed a lawsuit against One Hundred Entertainment for removing him from the group without a fair reason. He has also taken legal actions against several publications for spreading false information, per Hauterrfly.
