On June 16, it was announced that K-popgroup The Boyz member Ju Haknyeon, 26, would be going on hiatus due to personal reasons. Two days later (June 18), his agency, One Hundred, revealed that they had terminated his contract.

It was later reported by Korean news site News1 that Haknyeon had met up with former Japanese AV actress Asuka Kirara in May. They were seen hugging, and at one point Asuka rested her head on Haknyeon's shoulder.

In a statement to the public: One Hundred wrote: “We have come to recognise the seriousness of this matter and have determined it is no longer possible for us to maintain any trust in him as an artiste.” 

They added that Haknyeon’s departure from the group was decided on after "sufficient discussions" with the rest of The Boyz, and that it was done to “protect the other members and the team”. 

Korean online media outlet 10asia later alleged that Haknyeon had met Asuka at a bar in Tokyo, and had paid her for sex. Prostitution is illegal in South Korea. 

Haknyeon has since apologised to his fans. He also firmly denied the prostitution accusations. 

While he admitted he was at a private gathering and drank alcohol with an acquaintance in the early hours of May 30, he asserted: “It is completely untrue that I had engaged in any sort of illegal activity, or prostitution that is being brought up in reports and rumours.”

He apologised to those shocked by the controversy, adding that he is reflecting on his actions. 

36-year-old Asuka Kirara, who retired from the AV industry in 2020, has also been on the receiving end of hate comments too. Many condemned her for meeting up with “a guy much younger than her”, and for not speaking up to clarify the situation.

Photos: asukakiraran/ Instagram, _juhaknyeon_/ Instagram