6 Korean stars who survived being cancelled by scandals, from AOA’s Jimin and Stray Kids’ Kim Woojin, to Red Velvet’s Irene, Seo Ye-ji and Singles’ Inferno’s Song Ji-a
- It seemed impossible for AOA’s Jimin to recover from Kwon Mina’s bullying accusations, but leaked texts showed the other side of the story – and now she’s back
- After an investigation, Stray Kids’ Kim Woojin was able to shake sexual harassment claims and is set to star in HBO Max’s Beyond the Closet and even embark on a world tour
The Korean entertainment industry, just like any other, is used to scandals, and it often takes no more than malicious online comments for a celebrity’s reputation to go up in smoke – whether they are guilty or not.
Sometimes guilty celebrities own up to their actions and apologise, but other times stars who were slandered manage to prove their innocence. It’s in these latter rare cases that, despite their reputations taking a huge hit, some K-pop idols and actors emerge from the furore to tell their side of the story – with their personal brands still largely intact.
So which Korean stars were lucky enough to salvage their careers after initially devastating scandals?
1. Kim Seon-ho
However, leaked conversations between the two revealed that not only had the ex-girlfriend suggested the abortion, but also that Kim had actually taken care of her after the operation, cooking for her and even considering pausing his career for her, according to The Straits Times. It didn’t take long for people to favour Kim again, and the Start-Up actor’s career is gradually recovering.
Brands like Miima and Canon Korea quickly restored their ads with him and, in recent months, he’s returned to social media and the stage, even apologising publicly in person. He’s scheduled to make his comeback on the screen with the film Sad Tropics.
2. Seo Ye-ji
