Korean Celebrity News Headlines That Aged Extremely Poorly

In the fast-changing world of K-pop, each headline is only relevant for a short time before it’s quickly replaced by something newer and more exciting. However, on rare occasions, a particular news story can come back into the spotlight, albeit in the worst possible way.

Here are some of the less well-received K-pop headlines in history.

1. Kris Wu And A 16-Year-Old Co-star

Kris Wu, the former K-pop idol who left South Korea to become an actor and singer in China, garnered a lot of attention in 2019 with his single “Eternal Love.” One of the highlights of the release was the music video, which featured 16-year-old Mitsuki “Koki” Kimura, the youngest daughter of J-pop icon Takuya Kimura, who played the romantic female lead opposite Kris Wu in the music video.

2. The Rising Star Lee Seo Won

Lee Seo-won made his debut in the drama “The Awl” in 2015, and by 2018, he was said to be on his way to becoming “the next big star” in the Korean entertainment industry. Industry insiders often compare him to stars like Park Bo-gum and Song Joong-ki, and his career trajectory has certainly been similar.

However, these big predictions were quickly dashed when the actor was accused of sexual harassment and threatening a female celebrity with a weapon. On April 8, 2018, Lee was investigated for these charges, but at the time, he did not inform the production team of an ongoing project about the incident. After the news broke, he was removed from his role in the drama It’s a Matter of Time and as the host of Music Bank.

However, these big predictions were quickly dashed when the actor was accused of sexual harassment and threatening a female celebrity with a weapon. On April 8, 2018, Lee was investigated for these charges, but at the time, he did not inform the production team of an ongoing project about the incident. After the news broke, he was removed from his role in the drama It’s a Matter of Time and as the host of Music Bank.

In his first three trials, Lee pleaded guilty to all charges, but his lawyers argued that his “mental and physical faculties” were impaired by intoxication and sought lenient sentences. He then enlisted in the military midway through the trial, and his case was transferred to a military tribunal in 2019. The military tribunal sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended for two years, but he has since appealed the sentence, which is currently under review.

3. Seungri And Burning Sun

In 2018, former BIGBANG member Seungri started a new venture called Burning Sun at the Le Meridien Hotel in Gangnam, Seoul. When the news broke, the VVIP menu, featuring extremely expensive dishes, drew a lot of attention. The club was considered one of the best in Asia due to its high-end standards.

Burning Sun is now etched in the memory of every Korean pop culture lover, as it was the scene of one of the industry’s most reprehensible sex scandals. The club was busted for soliciting underage prostitutes, drugging and exploiting women, and even promoting sadistic sexual violence and illegal “snuff” filming. Seungri was charged with nine counts for his involvement in the Burning Sun scandal and sentenced to three years in prison, though this was later reduced to 18 months.

4. Jung Joon Young

In 2016, Jung Joon-young was investigated after his ex-girlfriend accused him of filming a sex video of her without her consent. However, the singer was acquitted within a month after police could not find enough evidence to support the charges. A few months later, he returned to the music industry.

However, in 2018, the singer was convicted for his involvement in the Burning Sun scandal. He admitted to filming and distributing illegal hidden camera videos of women.