K-Pop Star Ju Hak-nyeon Removed From The Boyz Amidst Allegations

K-pop idol Ju Hak-nyeon, 26, has been removed from the boy group The Boyz and his agency following recent accusations. His agency initially announced on June 16 that he would be taking a break for undisclosed reasons, followed by his departure from the group on June 18 and the termination of his contract.

The controversy stems from reports in Japanese tabloid Shukan Bunshun alleging that Ju Hak-nyeon met with former Japanese adult film star Kirara Asuka, 37, at a Tokyo hotel bar in late May. He is also accused of engaging in paid sexual acts with her. While full reports from Shukan Bunshun have not yet been published, these initial claims have gained significant attention.

On June 19, Ju Hak-nyeon released a handwritten apology concerning his meeting with Asuka but denied the accusation of paying for sex.

A complaint has been filed with the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul, requesting an investigation into potential violations of Korea's Sex Trade Punishment Act, even though the alleged incident occurred in Japan.

Kirara Asuka addressed the accusations on social media on June 21. She stated, "There is a lot of speculation swirling around, but the Shukan Bunshun article hasn’t come out yet. Please don’t spread false information. I have never engaged in paid sex acts (prostitution) in my private life. Of course, that includes this time." She also indicated that another woman present at the time took a photo and sold it to the tabloid.

This incident has led to swift action from Ju Hak-nyeon's former agency and band. Asuka has previously been linked to other Japanese celebrities, though their careers did not reportedly suffer significant repercussions from those associations.