Entertainment

K-Pop Controversies That Shook the Industry in 2024

Published

2m ago

Nov 12, 2024 / 5533 Views

Evan Walker

The Entertainment industry can appear dazzling and full of hope, but beneath the surface, the reality is often more complex. In the past few years, K-Pop has become a global phenomenon, with groups like BTS and BLACKPINK as well as multiple solo artists entering the global charts and selling out shows worldwide. However, in 2024, the K-Pop industry has been rattled by a number of major controversies and Scandals.

This year, headlines have been dominated by scandals, from BTS member Suga’s DUI case to the ADOR and Min Hee-jin drama, and even the controversy surrounding Riize’s Seunghan. K-Pop began to claim the global spotlight around 2018 to 2019, and during the pandemic, the world’s fascination with K-culture expanded to include not only K-Pop but also K-Dramas, K-Beauty, and K-Fashion. But 2024 has highlighted a darker side to the industry, leading many to question if the world of K-Pop is facing a crisis. Here are some of the most significant scandals that have made waves this year.

Disclaimer: The article contains sensitive topics that might upset some readers.

K-Pop scandals and controversies that made headlines in 2024

Former NCT member Taeil’s SA scandal

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Moon Taeil (@stronytaeil)

Moon Tae-il, 30 who was a member of the K-pop boy group NCT quit the band in August 2024 after being charged with a “criminal case related to a sexual crime”. Taeil began his music career back in 2013, and soon after, was discovered by SM Entertainment. In 2016, he made his debut with the boy group NCT and was active under the subgroup NCT 127.

Taeil is no longer a member of NCT. We will no longer be supporting him due to the crimes he’s being accused of. We hope the victims are doing well and have the support that they need at this time. https://t.co/Ffy5zkNpjP
— NCT Updating (@NCTupdating) August 28, 2024

On August 28, SM Entertainment issued a statement indicating the singer had decided to leave the boyband in the wake of his offenses, and that he would no longer participate in the group’s activities. The label added that the accused artist is cooperating with the investigation. It was later revealed that he is under investigation for aggravated quasi-rape. According to sources, the alleged victim is a non-celebrity foreign national who was unconscious and intoxicated when the South Korean musician and two of his acquaintances supposedly sexually assaulted her. The label has also officially terminated its contract with the artist.

The ADOR-HYBE drama

K-pop controversies 2024 — (Images: hitmanb72 and min.hee.jin/Instagram)

The ADOR-HYBE feud or Bang Si-hyuk and Min Hee-jin drama is one for the History book. South Korean Entertainment company HYBE is the parent company of multiple successful music labels, including Big Hit Entertainment, Source Music, Belift Lab, ADOR and more. Of note, ADOR manages rising K-Pop girl group NewJeans.

A power trip?

The power battle first became public in April 2024, when HYBE launched an internal audit for ADOR over suspicions that they were attempting to seize control of the K-Pop agency. However, no names were mentioned. But after the news leaked, ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin issued a statement, stating that HYBE is trying to undermine NewJeans’ success. She further accused HYBE and its other subsidiary Belift Lab of copying “makeup, costumes, choreography, photos, videos and event appearances” of NJ for their new girl group ILLIT.

HYBE CEO Park Ji-won claims to have discovered evidence of Min and other executives “trying to seize control” of ADOR. Min and other ADOR executives denied the accusations. She held a press conference where she stated that she feels like the company took advantage of her, saying, “[the company] used me to the fullest and now wants to take me down because I don’t listen to them”.

Min further said that HYBE asked her “not to promote NewJeans before LE SSERAFIM‘s debut, because they wanted people to think that LE SSERAFIM was Min Hee-jin’s girl group”. The day after the press conference, HYBE issued a statement to refute Min’s claims, alleging, “so much [of what Min claimed during the press conference] is far from the truth to the point that it is difficult to go through them one by one”. HYBE further claimed that it “can refute all claims with evidence”. In the statement, HYBE also asked Min to “resign promptly for the proper management of ADOR as she has already proven herself unfit to be in charge of management”.

Lawsuits and MHJ stepping down

In the meantime, Belift Lab, the HYBE subsidiary that houses ILLIT, sued Min Hee-jin for defamation over plagiarism allegations. On May 31, 2024, MHJ held a second press conference regarding the future of ADOR and NewJeans. Interestingly, a few days later, another HYBE subsidiary, Source Music, which is the label of LE SSERAFIM, filed a lawsuit against Min, seeking KRW 500 million (about USD 360,000) in damages for defamation. On Aug 27 2024, Min stepped down as CEO of ADOR against her wishes.

NewJeans’ reaction

The members of NewJeans expressed their frustration over the whole situation on social media, voicing their support of MHJ. Some of their fans also wrote a letter to HYBE asking them to reinstate Min Hee Jin as the CEO of ADOR. On September 11 2024, all five members of NJs did an impromptu live stream (now deleted) on their YT channel.

On the livestream, the girl group alleged that HYBE had been “bullying” Min, saying that they “feel so bad” for the music executive. “HYBE just seems like an inhumane company. What are we supposed to learn from such a company?” said Danielle. “We hope that HYBE makes the wise choice to reinstate Min Hee-jin as the CEO of ADOR by September 25,” said Minji. “The ADOR that we want is an ADOR where the music production and company management are done by Min Hee-jin as the CEO. We make this request as the way to cohabitate peacefully with HYBE.”

How did BTS get involved?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bam’s dad (@bowwow_bam)

BTS is the oldest and most successful group under HYBE. Yonhap News reported that HYBE’s April audit found that Min Hee-jin privately told other people that Bang Si-hyuk had copied her to make BTS. Understandably, the fans of BTS, the BTS ARMY, did not take the news well. For her part, Min has denied ever saying this during her press conference.

On a supernatural note, HYBE has also released messages exchanged between Min and a shaman. According to HYBE, Min, who felt that the shaman was possessed by her deceased sister, had spoken on business issues such as who to recruit and which trainees to choose.

However, what truly landed Min in hot water was her alleged comments on BTS’s military duties. “I think it would be better for me if BTS went, what do you think?” Min reportedly remarked in her leaked chats, adding, “I’m trying to send them.” On hearing this, ARMYs were furious, and began to directly oppose MHJ in the ADOR-HYBE battle.

Speaking out on the allegations at a press conference, Min attempting to clear the air by revealing that the shaman was just a friend. She added, “I was tired of how HYBE was treating me, and I thought perhaps it would be better for us if HYBE’s top act, BTS, were not active”

On September 13, a post appeared on the Instagram account of BTS Jungkook’s dog, captioned, “Artists are not guilty.” The next day, a follow-up post read, “Don’t use them.”

In another statement, Big Hit Music revealed that they had spoken with the BTS member and confirmed he put out the posts because he believed “under no circumstances should a young artist be dragged into a dispute and used as a shield.”

Min claimed in an interview that V, with whom she collaborated on his debut solo album Layover, would occasionally check on her from the military to see how she was doing during the ongoing events. Netizens then protested that BTS V violated the military code by contacting someone from outside, and they reportedly asked that the situation be thoroughly probed.

BTS Suga’s DUI Case

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SUGA of BTS 민윤기 (@agustd)

On August 6 2024, BTS member Suga was arrested by authorities for driving an electric scooter while intoxicated. He was near his home in Yongsan district’s Hannam area. According to the police, his breathalyser test revealed that his blood alcohol level was 0.227 percent at the time, well above the legal limit of 0.08 percent, warranting the cancellation of his licence. The next day, the rapper posted an apology on Weverse.

On August 16, protest trucks surrounded the HYBE headquarters, demanding Suga’s removal from BTS. The signs on the cars said “7-1=6.” “The army will fill the gap, so drunk driver, SUGA OUT.” While the initial assumption was that the protests were organised by angry fans, it was later revealed that one NCT fan may have organised the whole thing. While some Netizens criticised the musician for his bad decision making, the majority of ARMYs (BTS fans) have risen to his defense. Several Korean celebs have also expressed their support for the artist. Suga has pleaded guilty to the DUI allegations, and the prosecution has agreed to release him with a fine of USD 11,000.

Riize Seunghan dating rumours

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by RIIZE SEUNGHAN (승한) (@seunghan_riize)

In September 2023, 21-year-old Seunghan made his debut as a member of RIIZE, which operates under SM Entertainment. Two months later, the label placed him on temporary hiatus. After a year, SM Ent. acknowledged his return to the group, but fan (or rather anti-fan) protests caused the K-Pop idol to leave the group permanently.

The idol was put on hiatus after some of his pre-debut pics and videos surfaced online a month before the debut of Riize. In the post, Seunghan was shown kissing a woman in bed and smoking a cigarette, leading conservative Korean fans to condemn him for his actions. While these actions may seem fairly normal in today’s society, some conservative Korean fans remain critical of such actions. Moreover, labels encourage a parasocial relationship between idols and fans, which leads to many ‘delulu’ fans believing they actually have a say in their idols’ personal lives. Reportedly, many of these entertainment labels have a no dating policy for their artists. Early this year, we saw the hate trail some of these ‘fans’ started when Aespa’s Karina and actor Lee Jae Wook started dating. As a result of the backlash, the couple parted ways soon after.

This kind of behaviour is becoming a regular in the K-Pop scene. From fans sending funeral wreaths at the slightest inconvenience and criticising artists online for smoking to turning on the idols and their partners for dating and sending death threats — this dark side of K-Pop has proven harmful for both the artists as well as the fans’ mental health.

In October 2024, SM officially announced the return of Seunghan in a social media post dedicated to BRIIZE (RIIZE’s fandom). Even though international fans were excited for Seunghan’s return, Korean fans weren’t so happy about the news, with a few K-fans even banding together to send around 1,000 funeral wreaths to SM Entertainment. Some extremists even sent death threats to the singer.

RIIZE’s ‘OT6 fans’ argued that Seunghan wasn’t professional and had betrayed their trust by dating. Some also stated that his past scandals could affect the group’s reputation. While Riize member Wonbin stood up for his bandmate, the backlash proved too much to shoulder. Just two days after the return announcement, the label shared that Seunghan would be permanently leaving the group.