As 2024 comes to an end, the Korean entertainment industry has seen some of the biggest controversies unfold this year. From BTS' SUGA being involved in a DUI case to the largest entertainment label in the K-pop industry, HYBE, having its internal documents leaked at the National Assembly audit, 2024 has been a roller coaster of emotions for both the Korean entertainment industry and its fans.
The industry also saw the departure of Seunghan, a member of the rookie K-pop boy group RIIZE. His exit not only caused confusion but also sparked fans to fight for his return through various means like online campaigns, protests, etc. Additionally, older controversies, such as the Burning Sun scandal, resurfaced on the internet.
The article will explore these and other controversies that shook the K-pop and Korean entertainment industry.
2024's 6 Biggest Controversies from the Korean Entertainment Industry
1) BTS' SUGA's DUI case
The first controversy on the list of 2024's biggest events is SUGA's DUI case. On August 7, the South Korean police revealed that BTS' SUGA was charged with DUI for driving an electric scooter under the influence.
In an apology statement, the idol explained that while returning home after a couple of drinks with his friends at his studio, he took an electric scooter without being aware that it was illegal to drive it under the influence. When he fell from the scooter near his house, the police took a breathalyzer test, which led to his DUI charge and the revocation of his license.
The private investigations for this case were held at the Yongsan Police Station, and the case was soon sent to the prosecution. On September 10, the case was closed after the Seoul court declared a summary indictment with a fine of 15 million won.
2) Conflicts between NewJeans, ADOR, and Min Hee-jin
In August, ADOR released a statement announcing that Min Hee-jin was no longer the CEO of the agency and would be replaced by Kim Joo-young, the Chief HR at HYBE. However, NewJeans were not happy with this decision. In an emergency YouTube livestream, the members discussed their alleged mistreatment and negligence by the new ADOR management.
They also demanded Min Hee-jin's reinstatement as CEO. ADOR rejected this request, stating that reinstatement was not possible. Subsequently, NewJeans issued a statement outlining their demands with a 14-day ultimatum, warning that failure to meet these demands would lead to the group's departure from the agency.
On November 28, on the last day of the ultimatum, NewJeans held an emergency press conference where they announced their departure and termination of their exclusive contract with ADOR due to the agency's failure to satisfy their demands.
3) Burning Sun Scandal's revival
The Burning Sun scandal is one of the biggest controversies that shook the entertainment industry back in 2019. It revolved around a Gangnam bar opened by former BIGBANG member Seungri. Investigations revealed that the bar was involved in s*xual bribery, harassment, and non-consensual filming of women.
The scandal also exposed a chat room that several K-pop and Korean celebrities allegedly participated in, where discussions and sharing of these non-consensual videos filmed at the bar took place. One individual who admitted to being part of the group chat is Yong Jun-hyung, a former Highlight member.
This is one of the controversies that came up due to the famous K-pop soloist HyunA's relationship with Yong Jun-hyung. Given that HyunA has been a feminist icon in the industry, many were surprised by her relationship and eventual marriage with Yong Jun-hyung. As a result, she faced criticism and lost many fans and followers.
4) Former NCT Taeil's s*x crime controversy
Next on the list of 2024's biggest controversies is the s*x crime case involving former NCT Taeil. In October, SM Entertainment released a statement announcing Taeil's removal from NCT due to his involvement in a s*x crime case. The idol has been under investigation since June 2024, but the information reportedly only reached SM Entertainment toward the end of September.
After a few rounds of investigation, the case was sent to the prosecution, revealing that the idol was involved in quasi-r*pe. He was accused of s*xually assaulting a foreign woman along with two other individuals who were not reported to be celebrities. While the charges against him have not been disclosed, the potential sentence could lead to Taeil serving seven years in prison.
5) Former RIIZE's Seunghan's departure
Another one of the 2024 controversies that agitated many netizens was Seunghan's departure. On October 11, SM Entertainment announced that Seunghan would gradually return to RIIZE following his 11-month hiatus from November 2023.
The hiatus was due to a series of controversies surrounding the idol, including pictures and videos of him allegedly smoking and kissing his apparent former girlfriend, etc. However, on October 14, SM Entertainment revealed that Seunghan would be departing from RIIZE permanently due to the backlash they received from K-netizens.
The idol is expected to kickstart a solo career under SM Entertainment following the same. However, many fans have not been happy with his departure as they felt that the backlash and criticism towards the idol were extreme. Therefore, through campaigns and protests, they've been demanding Seunghan's return to RIIZE.
6) HYBE's internal documents leak
The last on the list of 2024's biggest controversies is the leak of HYBE's internal documents at the National Assembly audit. On October 24, the label's 18,000-page-long internal documents surfaced online, revealing that HYBE allegedly demeaned certain K-pop groups and artists.
Some of the artists named in the documents included NewJeans, with discussions about potentially dropping the group and starting a new girl band instead. Additionally, there were derogatory comments made towards underaged trainees and idols, as well as negative remarks regarding idols such as Stray Kids' Changbin, NCT's Haechan, and more.
While some of these controversies from 2024 have been resolved, others are still ongoing and debated by netizens.