Ju Hak-nyeon said, "I even felt like I wanted to die... I will fight until the end against the groundless label of being a sex offender."
Ju Hak-nyeon, formerly of the group The Boyz, released a third statement regarding the personal life controversy, strongly refuting the agency's notice of termination of his exclusive contract and the demand for a large penalty, deeming it unjust. He even confessed to feeling suicidal, shocking many.
On the morning of the 22nd, Ju Hak-nyeon stated through his personal social media account, "I heard directly about the fact that a photo was taken before the news report, and immediately informed my agency of the facts and requested help," adding, "I decided to suspend my activities on my own to minimize the damage to my members, and discussions about follow-up measures were underway."
However, he claimed, "The agency suddenly notified me of the termination of the exclusive contract and demanded that I sign an agreement for a penalty of over 2 billion won. There was no room for negotiation," and added, "When I refused to sign on the 17th, a notice of withdrawal was abruptly released the next day."
Previously, the Japanese media Shūkan Bunshun reported that Ju Hak-nyeon had privately met with former adult video actress Asuka Kirara, raising allegations of prostitution. Following the report, his agency, One Hundred Entertainment, noted that they would take legal action if the unfounded claims continued.
In response, Ju Hak-nyeon said, "Before the report by Shūkan Bunshun came out, articles about my meeting with the AV actress suddenly started to appear, and based on a single report, I was treated as a shameless sex offender overnight," expressing strong suspicions, "Immediately after that article, those accusing me also emerged. It seemed like a frame was being placed to terminate my exclusive contract."
He also expressed fear, stating, "If I just remain quiet, I am afraid I will be branded as a sex offender for life," adding, "I have filed a lawsuit against the journalist who wrote the false report, and I am preparing a civil lawsuit against the media outlet. Furthermore, I plan to sue the person who accused me for false accusation," foreshadowing legal action.
He continued, "I am deeply sorry to the fans who have supported me as an idol. I deeply reflect on my careless actions," yet emphasized, "However, I have not engaged in any acts that would damage my dignity, such as prostitution, sexual assault, or drug use. The company expelled me without honoring the termination clause specified in the exclusive contract," reiterating his grievances. He particularly confessed, "Because of this incident, I feel like I am being pointed at by people, and it has been so burdensome that I think about wanting to die anywhere I go." He concluded, "But since there are still people who support me, I will endure until the end."
Currently, the agency and Ju Hak-nyeon's side are taking completely different stances, making it highly likely that this will lead to legal battles. Particularly, in light of Ju Hak-nyeon's serious emotional revelations, voices among netizens urging caution are growing, stating, "There should be no witch hunt before the truth is revealed," "Let's refrain from speculation," and "At this rate, it could really end badly for someone."
Meanwhile, the Japanese media Shūkan Bunshun reported that on the previous day, the 21st, they captured images of a person presumed to be Ju Hak-nyeon and Asuka Kirara hugging in Roppongi, Tokyo, further escalating the controversy.
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