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K-pop scandals

South Korea to probe Blackpink’s Jennie’s ‘vaping incident’ after online outrage

Smoking cigarettes or vapes indoors is illegal in South Korea, and footage of the K-pop star smoking a vape triggered online outrage, with Seoul’s foreign ministry saying it had received a formal complaint.

Smoking cigarettes or vapes indoors is illegal in South Korea, and footage of the K-pop star smoking a vape triggered headlines and online outrage

9 Jul 2024 - 6:27PMvideocam

‘Disrespect’: South Korea’s BTS fans demand apology over chart-rigging probe

7 May 2024 - 2:51PMvideocam

The View | To call the likes of China and India ‘developing’ is, frankly, insulting

2 May 2024 - 3:30PMvideocam

South Korean police clear K-pop star G-Dragon of drug allegations

The BigBang singer was let off after police failed to obtain testimonies to support the charges against him.

20 Dec 2023 - 11:28AMvideocam

G-Dragon arrives at a police station in Incheon, South Korea, on November 6. Photo: AP

Fans react to K-pop star G-Dragon being charged over drug use

Big Bang singer G-Dragon was charged this week by police in South Korea with illegal drug use, after news of an investigation of a Parasite actor over similar alleged offences.

26 Oct 2023 - 4:31PM

Review | Dear Jinri: a heartbreaking interview with K-pop’s Sulli before her suicide

Jung Yoon-suk’s Dear Jinri is a heartbreaking documentary built around the final interview given by K-pop star Sulli of girl group f(x) – recorded ‘shortly before her passing’ in 2019.

10 Oct 2023 - 1:15PMvideocam

‘I will kill’: the murder threats targeting K-pop industry

Winter of aespa girl group, has been targeted, as have staff at SM Entertainment, home to a number of K-pop acts including boy band NCT.

13 Aug 2023 - 6:29PMvideocam

NCT Dream perform during the “K-pop Super Live” at the World Cup Stadium in Seoul. Photo: AFP

Accused of plagiarism, K-pop star IU warns legal action over ‘baseless’ rumours

A police report lodged by an unnamed individual claims the opening lines of six of the K-pop star’s songs, including Good Day, Red Shoes and Bbibbi, were reportedly copied.

11 May 2023 - 3:42PMvideocam

K-pop singer under fire for parents’ ties to convicted rapist’s cult church

Kyoungyoon of boy band DKZ was unaware of the religious activities carried out by his parents and believed them to be part of a ‘normal’ church.

9 Mar 2023 - 5:21PM

K-pop star Ravi probed over hiring broker to dodge military service

The singer is accused of using the services of a middleman, who was recently arrested, to manipulate his health records to evade mandatory conscription.

13 Jan 2023 - 12:00PMvideocam

Is fame worth it? 9 K-pop idols who gave up university for showbiz in 2022

Ive’s Wonyoung and Liz, Enhypen’s Jungwon, NMixx’s Sullyoon, Bae and Jinni, StayC’s Yoon and J, and NewJeans’ Minji chose to skip Korea’s CSAT entrance exam to focus on their groups’ activities

30 Dec 2022 - 12:00PM

(Left to right) Wonyoung, Sullyoon, Bae, J, Yoon, Minji and other K-pop idols gave up university for fame this year ... but was it worth it? Photos: @for_everyoung10, @nmixx_official, @stayc_highup, @newjeans_official/Instagram

In 2022, K-pop’s superwomen stand strong

In 2022, K-pop girl groups have turned away from the ultra-feminine to a badass empowering image

12 Dec 2022 - 8:29AM

Blackpink concert chaos: could the Born Pink World Tour be the band’s last?

The K-pop queens’ comeback tour lands in Hong Kong in January 2023, but there’s already drama over US$1,300 resale tickets, feuding and disbandment fears …

30 Nov 2022 - 11:23AM

10 ugly celebrity endorsement break-ups, from Ye to Johnny Depp

From Ye with Adidas and Aamir Khan with Snapdeal, to Sharon Stone with Dior and Maria Sharapova with Nike – why did these 10 celebs get dropped from repping the world’s biggest brands?

14 Nov 2022 - 7:00PM

Tiger Woods, Kate Moss, Kanye West aka Ye, Seo Ye-ji and Johnny Depp were all dropped by brands at some point. Photos: AP, @katemossphoto/Instagram, AFP, @Yejisdoormat/Twitter

5 K-pop idols who were ‘kicked out’ of their groups

From Momoland’s and (G)I-dle’s Soojin to 2PM’s Jay Park, Le Sserafim’s Kim Garam and Pentagon’s Dawn, why did these K-pop idols have their contracts cut short by their agencies?

28 Sep 2022 - 3:07PM

(G)I-dle’s Soojin, 2PM’s Jay Park, Le Sserafim’s Kim Garam, and Momoland’s Daisy. Photos: @gidle_soojin, @jparkitrighthere, @kimgaramkr, @daisiesforyu/Instagram

Why are these 5 K-pop idols getting the short end of the stick?

From Blackpink’s Lisa and NCT’s Yuta to Aespa’s Giselle, Ive’s Liz and Loona’s Vivi, why have these K-pop idols been seemingly excluded from group activities by their agencies?

26 Sep 2022 - 3:44PM

Blackpink’s Jennie and BTS’ V’s ‘romance’ heats up

New leaked photos are adding fuel to the Blackpink and BTS members’ dating rumours, from a kiss during that alleged Jeju Island date to a hug at a Born Pink party …

18 May 2023 - 4:41PM

The highly unusual controversy around hit K-drama Anna with Bae Suzy

The director of Anna accused streaming service Coupang Play of re-editing the drama series without her consent. Lee Joo-young says Coupang Play apologised, but it denies that and says it acted within its rights.

24 Aug 2022 - 2:23PMvideocam

Meet Min Hee-jin, the creative mastermind behind K-pop group NewJeans

From Girls’ Generation to Exo, her creative resume is plenty impressive, but is Min’s styling of Ador’s first girl group a little too controversial for K-pop fans to stomach?

12 Aug 2022 - 12:53PM

7 K-pop idols who quit their groups shortly after debuting

Le Sserafim’s Kim Garam is officially out just two months after debuting – but which other K-pop idols left their groups early?

3 Aug 2022 - 12:38PMvideocam

Opinion | After the NewJeans controversy, should K-pop groups stop debuting minors?

The arrival of new K-pop girl group NewJeans, whose youngest member is 14, has led to heated debate over minors in an often hyper-sexualised industry, and whether age limits are required.

3 Aug 2022 - 5:38AMvideocam

New K-pop girl group NewJeans, whose members are aged between 14 and 18 years old.

6 K-pop idols with tattoos who aren’t afraid to flaunt them

These 6 stars all like to show off their tattoos despite Korea’s strict rules around them – from BTS’ Jungkook and Got7’s Jackson Wang, to Jay Park and Hyuna

29 Jul 2022 - 11:44AM

Tattoos may be controversial in the K-pop industry, but some idols – such as BTS’ Jungkook and Jay Park – have begun proudly flaunting their ink. Photos: @jungkook.tattoo, @moresojuplease/Instagram

6 Korean stars who survived being cancelled, from Irene to Kim Woojin

K-stars’ personal dramas play out in full view of the public, meaning their reputations can be shattered in the blink of an eye ... but these stars managed to make a comeback

28 Jul 2022 - 2:38PMvideocam

5 times K-pop idols were betrayed by agency staff, from BTS to Lisa

It’s hard to know who to trust in the world of K-pop, so how did BTS, Blackpink, Momoland, Seventeen and Super Junior all end up getting swindled by people in their trusted inner circles?

21 Jul 2022 - 10:00AM

Kim Ga-ram booted from Le Sserafim by Hybe K-pop label over bullying claims

Kim Ga-ram was hit with accusations of bullying while in middle school just before the launch of K-pop girl group Le Sserafim. Now their music label under Hybe has terminated her contract over the controversy.

21 Jul 2022 - 7:48AM

Kim Ga-ram, 16, has been kicked out of K-pop girl group Le Sserafim following allegations she bullied other students while in middle school. Photo: @le_sserafim/Instagram

K-drama actor Nam Joo-hyuk hit by more allegations of school bullying

Twenty-Five Twenty-One star Nam Joo-hyuk denies allegations from a third accuser as his agency warns it will take legal action against the accusers and those who spread the claims online.

8 Jul 2022 - 1:45PM

K-drama actor and Twenty-Five Twenty-One star Nam Joo-hyuk debuted in 2013 as a fashion model and appeared in popular dramas including Cheese in The Trap, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, and Start-Up.

Is Kim Sae-ron cancelled? 5 scandals the K-drama child star faces

Kim Sae-ron is no stranger to controversy, having made headlines for scandals from drink-driving to allegedly regifting fan presents – is the latest scandal her last?

7 Jul 2022 - 11:57AMvideocam

5 challenges Twice’s Nayeon survived before her Billboard-topping solo debut

Nayeon has navigated scandals about her cracking voice, alleged bandmate bullying and even her choice of streaming platform – now she’s made history with the biggest solo release in Billboard history

5 Jul 2022 - 5:11PMvideocam

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K-pop scandals

From bands breaking up to controversial members making headlines for the wrong reasons, these are the biggest scandals in K-pop.