The year 2024 was a rollercoaster ride for fans, packed with jaw-dropping scandals that left us reeling and gasping in disbelief. From BTS' Suga's DUI incident to Seunghan's exit from RIIZE to LE SSERAFIM's Coachella fiasco, K-pop was anything but dull.
Buckle up as we revisit the 10 sizzling controversies that rocked the K-pop world in this unforgettable year!
aespa Karina Apologizing to Fans for Dating Lee Jae Wook
Karina and Lee Jae Wook's dating news shook both the K-pop and K-drama realms. Shortly after Dispatch revealed their romance on Feb. 27, the celebrities' respective agencies also confirmed their relationship.
It was reported that the couple first met in January at the Prada Fashion Show, while an insider noted that they "fell in love at first sight."
Following the confirmation, Karina and Lee Jae Wook received massive backlash for dating, prompting the "Supernova" hitmaker to release a lengthy apology to fans.
Unfortunately, the two broke up after only five weeks of dating, with Ten Asia citing the malicious and hate comments as the cause of the split.
Seunghan's RIIZE Membership vs. OT6 Fans' Funeral Wreaths
RIIZE's fans, BRIIZEs, rejoiced on Oct. 11 after it was announced that Seunghan would finally rejoin the group following his 11-month hiatus.
Recalling, the young idol took an indefinite break in November 2023, just a month after RIIZE debuted after his pre-debut photos leaked on social media, where he was seen kissing a woman and smoking a cigarette.
During this time, however, OT6 fans (RIIZE fans who only support the six members) sent protest trucks and funeral wreaths in front of SM Entertainment's building, demanding Seunghan leave the group.
On Oct. 13, only two days after the previous announcement, Wizard Production confirmed that Seunghan would permanently leave RIIZE. This was followed by a statement from SM Entertainment, retracting its original announcement regarding his supposed return.
While BRIIZEs were saddened by the sudden change, OT6 fans were delighted by the decision.
The situation triggered discussions about the current fan culture, with media outlets and international fans mentioning how a plethora of fans put idols on a pedestal.
Meanwhile, Seunghan is set to make his solo debut in 2025.
Hyeri and Han So Hee Beefing Over Ryu Jun Yeol
The industry was sent into a whiplash when Hyeri and Ryu Jun Yeol announced their split in November 2023. They were together for seven years and were adored by fans and media for being a "representative couple" born through the hit K-drama "Reply 1988."
When March 2024 rolled around, the breakup resurfaced and suddenly turned messy, with Han So Hee entering the picture this time. Reports revealed that the "Gyeongseong Creature" actress was spotted in a hotel in Hawaii with Ryu Jun Yeol.
Amid the news, Hyeri, who was still following the actor on Instagram, decided to finally unfollow him and posted a cryptic IG Story with the caption, "That's funny."
Han So Hee seemingly responded to Hyeri's post with an image of a dog holding a knife, along with the text, "I don't even like people who already have partners."
Following this, the Girl's Day member released another statement, where she apologized to fans for her emotional response to her former boyfriend's dating news. She also promised to "act with more prudence" from here on out.
On Mar. 16, Han So Hee's relationship with Ryu Jun Yeol was confirmed, but the actress emphasized that it wasn't a rebound or "transit love" (a case where a person quickly starts dating someone new right after breaking up with their previous partner).
However, two weeks later, Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol reportedly called it quits.
Throughout this mess, the actor kept his silence, causing him to be branded as a "coward."
LE SSERAFIM's Live Vocals Deafeningly Criticized
LE SSERAFIM made their Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival debut on April 13 and 20. But what was supposed to be a celebratory event for the group and their fans, FEARNOTs turned sour as the five-member team faced heavy criticism for their live vocals during and after their 40-minute set.
Following the flak, the Source Music girl group addressed the controversy.
"We were so excited that we couldn't pace ourselves, which led to some shortcomings," explained LE SSERAFIM leader Kim Chaewon. "This experience reminded us that we still have a lot to learn and I think showing improvement will be a lifelong task."
Jennie Taking Heat for Smoking Indoors
Jennie was spotted smoking vape indoors in July, drawing heavy criticism from fans.
In a now-deleted vlog published through her official YouTube channel, Jennierubyjane Official, the BLACKPINK member was caught with smoke coming out of her mouth while getting her hair and makeup done during her stay in Capri.
In South Korea, smoking indoors is strictly prohibited and punishable by a fine. But while the act isn't as severely banned in Italy, the "SOLO" hitmaker still found herself in a smoky situation and heated opinions across social media.
On Jul. 9, she released an apology through her label ODDATELIER.
NewJeans, HYBE, and ADOR's Long-Standing Saga
NewJeans didn't go super shy when they held a sudden and explosive live broadcast in September, where they exposed HYBE's alleged mistreatment, bullying, their future as a group, and more.
In their broadcast, the five members, Hanni, Haerin, Danielle, Minji, and Hyein, called HYBE "inhumane" and gave the company a deadline of Sept. 25 to reinstate Min Hee Jin as the CEO of ADOR. The request was rejected, but she was re-appointed as the internal director.
On Oct. 15, during the state audit of the National Assembly's Environment & Labor Committee, Hanni explored the topic "Workplace Bullying and Harassment." She recounted an incident wherein a Belift Lab employee allegedly tried to discriminate against her by telling ILLIT to "ignore" her.
This prompted ADOR to demand an apology from Belift Lab on Nov. 28. On the same day, NewJeans terminated their exclusive contracts with ADOR. However, the label refuted the move and claimed that the girl group's contract "remains in full effect."
NewJeans also reiterated their rights to terminate their contracts, noting that ADOR "severely harassed" them following their departure.
On Dec. 15, the group launched their independent Instagram account @jeanzforfree.
On Dec. 18, in a new statement, ADOR urged NewJeans to return to their official account, stating that their new handler is causing confusion among advertisers.
HyunA and Yong Junhyung's Scandal-Tainted Love And The Burning Sun Fallout
HyunA and Yong Junhyung started dating sometime in 2023. Still, their relationship has been sharply criticized from the get-go largely due to the former Highlight member's rumored ties to the notorious Burning Sun case.
As the songstress has always been believed to be the face of female power, fans took this as hypocrisy from her for dating someone allegedly involved in a high-profile scandal.
Coincidentally, in May 2024, BBC released its Burning Sun documentary, reviving the case that took the entertainment world upside down. With Yong's rumored involvement revisited, the idol was once again vilified on the internet and by the public.
In June, he finally addressed the speculations, saying that he knew about the KakaoTalk chatroom where the main perpetrators, Seungri and Jung Joon Young, would send "molkas" (illegally filmed videos) of their gruesome acts of r**e and sexual assault. He wasn't in the group chat, but Yong admitted that he received explicit footage on his personal accounts.
"I clicked on the videos that were sent to my personal messenger without any explanation on a black screen, so I couldn't tell what it was or what the intention was until I clicked on it to check it," confessed Yong. "Later, I could have said, 'Stop, this is not right,' but I wasn't someone who could say things like that so I just glossed it over."
Public disapproval ignited when HyunA and Yong tied the knot in October.
The two have been under the radar since their wedding.
Suga Drunk-Driving and Falling Off His Scooter
On Aug. 7, Suga was revealed to have been investigated by the police for riding a scooter after drinking.
The report also detailed that the BTS rapper fell from his scooter on Aug. 6 while driving under the influence in Hannam-dong, where a patrol officer discovered him. He was taken to the station to take an alcohol test, which exceeded the legal limit.
Amid his DUI case, Suga penned an apology through Weverse. He also bowed to fans in a second apology letter on Aug. 25.
"I damaged the precious memories I made with the members and fans, while also putting pressure on BTS's name," Suga wrote. "I feel so apologetic and regretful that it's difficult to express since it's causing damage to the members and the group."
The case was wrapped up on Aug. 26, with the police stating that there would be "no possibility of further summons" for the BTS member.
Jessi's Fan Getting Assaulted While She Flees the Scene
Jessi landed in a predicament despite leaving an assault scene she had witnessed.
In October, the "Cold Blooded" singer captured public scrutiny after she was caught by CCTV fleeing the assault scene where her alleged friend was assaulting her 18-year-old fan.
Jessi explained her side through an Instagram post on Oct. 11, where she recounted declining twice to the fan's request for a photo with her. However, her acquaintance, who turned out to be a person she met for the first time that night, suddenly assaulted the fan.
"At the time, I was so flustered by the sudden situation that I was unable to be considerate of the fan," wrote Jessi.
The victim's mother then came forward on Oct. 14, berating Jessi's apology.
"I saw the apology, but all she did was make excuses and say things like 'they weren't with me' and '(the perpetrator) suddenly showed up'. That doesn't make sense. That's because when my child saw it, (they) were together."
Amid the controversy, Jessi terminated her contract with DOD.
Taeil's Sexual Crime
The former NCT member Taeil's sexual assault scandal left us questioning everything we thought we knew about our favorite K-pop idols.
On Aug. 28, SM Entertainment announced Taeil's departure from NCT after the idol was "accused in a criminal case related to sexual crimes." In an official statement, the agency said that the graveness and severity of the situation prompted his withdrawal.
In October, Chosun Ilbo reported that Taeil was investigated for "quasi-rape," and that the victim was under the influence of alcohol. The report also revealed that two other individuals, both non-showbiz, were involved in the sexual assault.
On Oct. 15, SM Entertainment ultimately terminated Taeil's exclusive contract.
