THE BOYZ member JU HAKNYEON has been removed from the group following reports of an unsavory meeting with a Japanese adult film star, according to Japanese media reports.
On the 18th, Cha Ga-won, chairman of THE BOYZ's agency One Hundred, issued a heartfelt apology, stating, "We deeply regret the concern we have caused fans and the public due to recent incidents involving our artists and staff. One Hundred humbly acknowledges that we have fallen short in managing our artists' and staff members' personal conduct and attitudes. We take full responsibility for these matters and are reflecting deeply."
Furthermore, Chairman Cha promised to strengthen the management system regarding artists' personal lives and attitudes, as well as to enhance ethical awareness through education and internal system improvements. "Going forward, we will adopt a more responsible approach to ensure that not only our artists' activities but also their surrounding environment can regain and maintain the trust of fans and the public," he added.
Recently, the Japanese publication Shūkan Bunshun reported that JU HAKNYEON had met with Japanese adult film star Asuka Kirara at a private bar in Tokyo at the end of last month, and inquired his agency, One Hundred, about it. The report also shockingly suggested that the meeting was for the purpose of prostitution, a claim that JU HAKNYEON has denied, stating that while the meeting did occur, it was not for prostitution.
JU HAKNYEON first gained fame in April 2017 through his participation in Mnet's 'Produce 101' Season 2 and subsequently debuted as a member of THE BOYZ in December of the same year. Prior to this controversy, One Hundred had announced that JU HAKNYEON would not be participating in THE BOYZ's activities due to "personal reasons."
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)