5 times K-pop idols were swindled or betrayed by agency staff: BTS and Seventeen had their personal info leaked, Blackpink’s Lisa had money stolen, and Momoland’s Nancy was filmed undressing

Jul 21 , 2022

Blackpink’s Lisa, BTS members and Momoland’s Nancy have all found themselves targeted. Photos: @lalalalisa_m, @bts.bighitofficial, @nancyjewel_mcdonie_/Instagram

K-pop idols can’t always trust managers – Blackpink’s Lisa lost US$761,000, while Super Junior’s Yesung called Leeteuk when their personal belongings were nabbed

Employees of Bang Si-hyuk’s Big Hit Entertainment have been accused of selling out BTS by passing their schedules to ‘sasaeng’ fans – Seventeen suffered the same

K-pop idols are constantly surrounded by their agency staff – whether it’s wardrobe stylists, managers, make-up artists or otherwise. And considering the sheer amount of time they have to spend together, many end up developing strong bonds over time.

But it’s not always smooth sailing, and sometimes, staff members take advantage of their idol’s trust to make cash through swindling or paparazzi payments in exchange for unauthorised photos or gossip. As a result, it’s no surprise that some idols are more reluctant than they used to be when it comes to relying on their backstage team.

So, which unlucky K-pop stars were betrayed by their most trusted?

Blackpink’s Lisa

In probably one of the most famous cases of a K-pop idol being scammed by their own staff, Blackpink’s Lisa was cheated out of almost US$761,000 (1 billion won) by her now ex-manager in 2020. When her manager offered to look into property investments for her, Lisa unsuspectingly handed over the required funds, which he then used to gamble. Having been betrayed by someone she’d trusted since her debut, Lisa was reportedly deeply hurt and even sought to end the matter amicably.

The manager repaid part of the money and left YG Entertainment, with an agreement to pay the rest later. YG released a statement expressing its shock, saying it was committed to taking measures to prevent anything similar happening in the future.

Momoland’s Nancy

In 2019, Momoland’s Nancy became the victim of a hidden camera crime committed by one of her own staff, and understandably, fans were furious. Though the photos of her spread through social media were reportedly Photoshopped, it was still undeniably a violation of her privacy.

Momoland’s Nancy is now 22 years old, but was even younger at the time. Photo: @nancyjewel_mcdonie_/Instagram

The photos were reportedly taken while she was changing outfits during the 2019 Asia Artist Awards and MLD Entertainment quickly responded, promising legal action against both the staff member and those who spread the photo. The AAA organisation committee also released a statement, prioritising Nancy’s well-being and protection, as reported by Koreaboo.

BTS

BTS’ private information was sold by its own staff. Photo: @bts.bighitofficial/Instagram