Key Takeaways

• Dismissal Context: Ju Haknyeon was removed from THE BOYZ amidst allegations involving a former actress.
• Legal Battle: Haknyeon is facing a multimillion-dollar lawsuit from his former management, ONE HUNDRED.
• Media Coverage: He believes that the media’s portrayal of events was influenced by his former label.
• Support System: Despite challenges, Haknyeon finds strength in the support from friends and fans.

On Sept. 12, THE BOYZ kicked off the U.S. leg of the group’s fourth world tour at The Theater at Madison Square Garden with a concert that pop-culture site OtakuKart said “encapsulates the group’s dynamic charisma and intense stage presence.” And yet, one member who originally helped define that dynamic wasn’t on the stage: Ju Haknyeon, who was dismissed from the group in June after rumors surfaced that he had met with a former Japanese adult-film actress.  

In the aftermath, while his former bandmates toured the globe, Haknyeon has been wracked by sleepless nights and mounting financial fears — all stemming, he alleges, from a pattern of coercion by his former management company and label, ONE HUNDRED, that led to his sudden exit and a multimillion-dollar breach of contract lawsuit that’s set to go to trial on Thursday (Dec. 4).

Haknyeon was introduced to K-pop fans as a contestant on 2017’s singing competition series Produce 101, which sought to create an 11-member boy band chosen by fan votes. The son of farmers from South Korea’s Jeju Island, Haknyeon’s popularity on the show ultimately landed him in 17th place. That visibility led his agency, Cre.ker Entertainment (later rebranded as IST Entertainment), to quickly announce its first male group — THE BOYZ, featuring Haknyeon — which it debuted in December of that year. Since then, Haknyeon has remained a notable face, with his Instagram account boasting 4.2 million followers, the second-most among THE BOYZ’s 11 members. 

On June 16, ONE HUNDRED, which signed THE BOYZ in November 2024 after the group completed its seven-year contract with IST Entertainment, announced Haknyeon was taking a temporary hiatus. Just days later, it said it had decided to terminate his exclusive contract after rumors began to swirl, including in a June 18 report from Korean outlet TenAsia, that Haknyeon’s alleged meeting with the actress involved paid sexual activity, which is illegal in South Korea. Haknyeon denied those claims and subsequently filed a defamation complaint against the TenAsia reporter. On July 2, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station decided not to charge the singer-actor for prostitution because the claims were based on internet articles. And yet his dismissal from the label remained. 

Speaking to Billboard via Zoom, Haknyeon is sharing for the first time the exact series of events that he says led to his dismissal, ONE HUNDRED’s alleged demand for millions in contract fees in a lawsuit against the star, as well as supposed evidence he says proves his former management coordinated with local media to push him out of the band. (Billboard has not been able to independently review the lawsuit.)

According to Haknyeon, the claims that led to his June 18 dismissal stemmed from an incident on May 29, when THE BOYZ attended the Asia Star Entertainer Awards 2025 in Yokohama, Japan, where they won the platinum and best conceptual artist awards. After the ceremony wrapped at 10 p.m., and with the group having a day off on May 30, Haknyeon says he met a friend and several others for a drink at a local bar. 

“We were hanging out with many people and, as it got later while we were drinking, there was one person [there] who used to be an AV [adult video] actress. Her name is Asuka Kirara. I met her there for the first time and, as far as I knew, she had been retired for about five to seven years.” 

Haknyeon says he spoke with the 36-year-old about her career transition into the beauty and cosmetic world. “She’s very famous in business,” he says of Kirara, who has more than 6 million followers across social media. “She became very successful after changing from her previous career. So, while drinking together, I was curious, and we talked about various things, including discussions about business — she works with cosmetics; I know she also runs dermatology clinics — so we had those kinds of conversations while drinking when there were many people there [with us]. After that, we kept drinking and everyone got a bit drunk together. As adults, it’s normal to drink and get drunk, right? I’m turning 27 years old.” 

Haknyeon describes his exchanges with Kirara as part of a typical alcohol-infused evening among adults but believes an attendee took photographs without his consent that night and sold them to the Japanese tabloid Shukan Bunshun under the pretext that Haknyeon and Kirara were alone. 

In a statement Kirara also publicly denied that any sexual contact occurred — not to mention prostitution — and has said she did not receive payment nor had she ever privately received money for sex. After news broke of the dropped charges against Haknyeon she spoke out again on social media reiterating that tabloid stories were untrue sharing similar story of joining large party at bar where she said K-pop star asked her about her career.

But in its own June statement ONE HUNDRED said company “took time thoroughly verify facts” regarding rumors decided that Haknyeon’s exit was “unavoidable measure protect members team.” It went on call social-media allegations one-sided contract termination “unilateral false claims” claimed he violated clause regarding “conduct damages dignity artist extent interferes entertainment activities.” The agency vowed necessary legal action including submitting relevant evidence documentation.

In statement sent Billboard late September ONE HUNDRED went even further not only doubling down previous assertions but suggesting company had uncovered additional alleged behavior by Haknyeon caused it take actions did.

“As ONE HUNDRED officially announced June 20 Mr. Ju Haknyeon’s actions were deemed have fallen under Article Paragraph exclusive contract applies ‘acts seriously damage reputation public cultural artist extent interfere entertainment activities (such but limited drunk driving drug use gambling prostitution sexual misconduct assault sexual assault fraud etc)’” September statement reads “Accordingly contract terminated claim damages filed However Mr. Ju Haknyeon through personal social media mentioned relevant clause intentionally omitted reference ‘sexual misconduct’ thereby minimizing importance distorting facts present arguments favorable himself Furthermore while reviewing facts matter discovered additional circumstances regarding negative conduct Mr. Ju Haknyeon.”