The scandal involving THE BOYZ's Ju Haknyeon has entered a new phase with a defamation report.
The prostitution scandal involving former THE BOYZ member Ju Haknyeon has reached a new development, nearly a year after the controversy erupted. On June 2, 2026, it was reported that Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office filed a defamation complaint against a reporter without detention last month under the Act on Promotion of Information Network Utilization and Information Protection.
The reporter, identified as "A," is accused of creating an online article in June of last year claiming that "Ju Haknyeon engaged in prostitution with former Japanese AV actress Asuka Kirara at a bar in Tokyo, Japan." Ju Haknyeon's side had previously filed a police complaint that same month, declaring the report to be false. The police subsequently conducted an investigation and submitted the case to the prosecution in March of this year.
During the investigation, Reporter A stated that he was unaware that the prostitution allegations were false. However, after thoroughly reviewing statements from ONE HUNDRED representatives, materials from Ju Haknyeon's side, and recorded conversations between the parties, the prosecution concluded that defamation through the spread of false facts had been proven.
Interestingly, while Reporter A cited "several sources from the entertainment industry" as the basis for the prostitution allegations in his article, he failed to provide any objective evidence or physical support other than rumors during the police investigation. Furthermore, the article included the claim that "Ju Haknyeon admitted to engaging in prostitution after confirming specific evidence submitted by his agency," but an investigation by ONE HUNDRED representatives found this information to be false.
Meanwhile, Ju Haknyeon was also reported by a third party for violating the Prostitution Punishment Act related to these allegations, but the police decided not to press charges in July of last year, citing a lack of evidence to support the allegations. Since then, Ju Haknyeon has personally shared evidence of his attendance at THE BOYZ's final concert in April, interacting with fans.
This scandal has undoubtedly sparked mixed reactions among fans and the public. Many are eagerly awaiting further clarification from Ju Haknyeon and his agency regarding this issue. Hopefully, with this latest development, the truth behind this highly publicized scandal will soon be revealed.
(wk/timw)
