The 28 scandals in K-Biz

MANILA, Philippines - There has been much interest in the personal lives of Korean celebrities in the Philippines particularly because they’re very popular here. K-pop groups score sold-out concerts everytime and Korean dramas soar to the top of TV ratings, at par with Filipino telenovelas. Think Lee Min Ho, Boys Over Flowers, My Love From The Stars and Lovers in Paris. Or Super Junior, Girls Generation, Big Bang, 2NE1 and EXO. Like the local showbiz industry, Korea has its share of juicy and controversial scandals, ranging from drug possession, suicides, sex tapes, driving under the influence to dating. Yes, even dating. Quite peculiar but in the Korean showbiz culture, idols are not allowed to date by their management agency because it will ruin the fans’ romantic illusions. These types of controversies typically make it to the front pages of leading Korean dailies.

Here are the Top 28 scandals in K- showbiz:

1. Open World Entertainment sex scandal

Open World Entertainment CEO Jang Seok Woo was charged and prosecuted with sexual harassment, assault and rape of his singers and trainees. He was prosecuted on May 8, 2012.

2. Open World Entertainment talent and actress Jang Jayeon commits suicide

Jang Jayeon, who starred in the popular drama Boys Over Flowers, committed suicide at her home in Seoul in 2009. Jayeon left a suicide note slamming her manager Kim Sung Hoon who she claimed forced her to have sex with various key figures in the entertainment industry to get projects.

3. Nickhun involved in a DUI incident

Nickhun of the popular boy band 2 PM was booked without detention by the Gangnam Police in Seoul for driving under the influence (DUI) in July 2012.

4. Daesung’s car accident involving a motorcyclist

On May 2011, Big Bang member Daesung’s car collided with a motorcyclist on the Yanghwa Bridge in Seoul before crashing into a taxi. The motorcyclist, who died from the accident, was found to be driving under the influence. Although Daesung was sober, he was overspeeding.

5. TVXQ disbands

Touted as one of the biggest pop acts in Asia in the early 2000s, the three members of TVXQ, Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu surprised their fans when they filed a lawsuit against their talent agency, SM Entertainment for unfair labor practices. The trio accused SM  of cutting their group’s income and booking them without their consent. In October 2009, the court ruled in favor of Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu and were able to continue under their new group called JYJ.

6. G-Dragon caught smoking marijuana

The most prolific member of Big Bang, singer-songwriter G-Dragon was caught smoking marijuana by the Japanese  police in 2011. But since it was his first offense, he was not charged with any crime.

7.   Jo Kwon’s sexuality issues

Rumors about the sexual orientation of 2 AM’s Jo Kwon have been swirling in the K-pop world since he debuted with the band in 2008. Netizens were able to unearth an exchange of love messages between Kwon and Ukiss member Soo Hyun. They denied the issue.

8. SeeYa’s Nam Gyuri’s wardrobe malfunction

During a performance in 2006, Nam Gyuri of the then-popular girl group SeeYa suffered a wardrobe malfunction while dancing to Beyonce’s Crazy in Love.

9. Seungri’s sex scandal

Seungri, another member of Big Bang, figured in a sex scandal in 2012 after a woman claimed she had a one-night stand with him in Japan. A Japanese tabloid published the interview with the woman and photos of a half-naked Seungri sleeping in a hotel bed.

10. Lee Hyori’s producer plagiarizes Jason DeRulo’s songs

Korean diva Lee Hyori stopped promoting her 2010 album H-Logic shortly after its release when netizens discovered that some of the songs in her album were ripped off. People found out that her producer Bahnus plagiarized seven of the tracks from foreign artists, including Jason DeRulo.

11. Girl band Kara files lawsuit against their label but later withdraws

Kara is one of the biggest girl groups in Korea along with SNSD and 2NE1. In 2012, they filed a lawsuit against their label DSP Media, citing mismanagement, an overloaded work schedule, and issues with their salaries — all claims that DSP denied. But after four months, the dispute was  resolved and Kara rejoined DSP. But after a year, two of its members eventually left the band, Nicole and Jiyoung.

12. Jay Park’s  Myspace controversy

2PM’s ex-leader Jay Park found himself in hot water in 2009 when netizens unearthed his disparaging remarks  against Korea, such as “Korea is gay” and “I hate Koreans” on his Myspace account. The Korean-American who hails from Seattle, claimed he unintentionally made the remarks because he was homesick.

13. Kang Ho Dong’s tax evasion case

Kang Ho Dong, one of Korea’s top entertainment hosts, was accused of a tax evasion case involving his accountant.

14. Girl’s Generation’s leader Taeyeon admits dating EXO’s Baekhyun

Fans of Taeyeon and  Baekhyun in Korea felt betrayed when they found out about the clandestine affair of the two singers.

15. 2NE1 member Park Bom’s alleged drug-smuggling scandal

A Korean news site published a story about Park Bom, a member of 2NE1 with Sandara Park, CL and Minzy, regarding her alleged smuggling of 82 amphetamine pills to Korea from the US in 2010. But her management had clarified that the drugs were legally prescribed to Park by her doctor in the US. 

16. AllKpop publishes unauthorized nude photos of Ailee

Rising K-pop singer Ailee’s career was briefly rocked when her nude photos were published by K-pop entertainment website AllKpop by her ex-boyfriend who happened to be the vice president of content for AllKpop.

17. Rain breaks army rules

Rain violates army policies by dating actress Kim Tae Hee while still in the military.

18. Fan files legal complaint against  singer Jang Yoon Jung 

A fan has filed a complaint against Jang Yoon Jung demanding that she apologize to her mother for her disrespectful comments in the TV show Healing Camp. Jang reportedly told the show’s host that her mom has squandered all her earnings.

19. South Korean Ministry of Defense shuts down the celebrity soldier unit of the army after Sangchu of Mighty Mouth and Se7en are caught breaking army rules on camera

South Korea’s National Ministry of Defense dissolved the celebrity unit of the public relations wing of their Defense Media Agency after Korean rappers Sangchu of Mighty Mouth and Se7en, who were both serving in the military, were caught on camera visiting a massage parlor.

20. Police find the body of G.O.D singer Son Ho Young’s girlfriend inside his car

When the police pulled the lifeless body of Son Ho Young’s girlfriend from a car a few years back, he was initially brought in as a suspect. Although police released Son after several hours of questioning, the tragedy of his girlfriend’s death, later ruled out a suicide, sent the singer into a mental breakdown.

21. Psy caught by the police smoking marijuana

 Before he became a YouTube sensation via his hit Gangnam Style, Psy has had his fair share of controversies. According to the police, Psy was caught smoking marijuana with a composer several times in 2012 at a friend’s house. Psy admitted his offense and was fined for five million won. 

 22. Hangeng leaves Super Junior

The lone Chinese member of the 13-member group Super Junior Hangeng left the group in haste and slapped his agency SM Entertainment with a slew of lawsuits ranging from abusive labor practices to bullying from fellow artists.

23. Chris leaves EXO

Chris, another Chinese singer from newly-formed boy band EXO, has left the group and filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment for forcing him to work long hours.

24. Singer-actor Park Yong Ha commits suicide

The Korean actor was found dead by his mother on June 30, 2010. Park is said to be under pressure in managing his own entertainment agency and his career, and taking care of his father who was sick with cancer.

25. IU and Eunhyuk’s controversial photo

A photo of a shirtless Eunhyuk and IU in her pajamas caused a controversy, after the girl accidentally posted the photo on her social media account.

26. SNSD boycotted during 2008 Dream concert

Fans of SNSD and Super Junior figured in a brawl during the 2008 Dream Concert. The fans were fighting over their idols as well as for seats. The clash resulted in dozens of injured fans from both sides.

27. Miss Korea Han Sung Joo’s sex video

1994 Miss Korea and TV host Han Sung Joo’s sex tape was leaked into the Internet by her former boyfriend.

28. Psy violates military rules

The Gangnam Style star famously repeated his two-year service in 2007 for negligence during duty in the form of private concerts and TV show appearances.