The K-pop industry seems to be in its chaotic era, marked by a series of shocking events. From dating scandals to company disputes, nothing is off the table in 2024.
It is difficult to determine whether these controversies are coming forward due to the integration of social media into fan culture, the industry’s quick rise into a global market, or its westward growth. It isn’t too far-fetched to say that it is probably a mix of the above and more factors. However, one can be sure that it is extremely difficult to keep up with everything that is ongoing because of the number of controversies reaching the audiences.
We have gathered some of the shocking news and events of 2024 that rocked the industry and crashed stock prices. These are also some of the stories that best represent changes occurring in the K-pop industry. So, let’s dive into them.
1. HyunA announces relationship with Yong Junhyung
In January 2024, globally popular soloist, HyunA, announced her relationship with Yong Junhyung, a former member of BEAST and Highlight. This revelation left fans speechless due to Junhyung’s association with the infamous Burning Sun scandal, a 2019 controversy involving allegations of assault, sexual offenses, and drug use.
Fans were particularly upset because HyunA has been a prominent figure to talk for women’s empowerment. So, her association with Junhyung, who had been tangled in such severe allegations, came off as a disappointment.
2. NCT members accused of orgy
NCT members Haechan and Johnny recently faced serious allegations of being allegedly involved in an orgy with fans in Japan. The accusations sprouted from screenshots of private Instagram stories posted by the alleged girls involved. As per reports, these images included explicit details about their encounters with the idols.
SM Entertainment strongly denied the allegations, calling them false and defamatory after checking with the members. The agency also vowed to take legal action against those spreading these rumors.
3. K-pop stars take political stands
In 2024, several K-pop artists have made statements about Palestine. For the unversed, K-pop idols are usually not outspoken about their political beliefs due to their contracts. Therefore, this is a notable change.
The Boyz’s Kevin, BM of KARD, Fatou of BlackSwan, and Jay Park have expressed their prayers and support for Palestinians through social media. EXO’s Suho, Chuu, Kwon Eunbi, and Bada also participated in the Green Heart Bazaar event, supporting Gaza through UNICEF’s emergency relief campaign.
Additionally, several NCT members made statements regarding the situation in Palestine, with Taeyong, Renjun, and WinWin addressing the boycott of Starbucks as part of the broader movement in support of Palestine.
4. Idols vs. Companies: CBX vs. SM Entertainment and n.Ssign vs. n.CH Entertainment
Two significant disputes between idols and their management companies have surfaced so far in 2024. EXO’s subunit CBX (Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin) held a press conference in June 2024 demanding transparency related to their earnings.
SM Entertainment responded by taking legal action and restarting their legal conflicts with each other. Similarly, rookie group n.Ssign publicly called out their agency for mistreatment. On June 12, Eddie posted on the Fromm platform expressing severe dissatisfaction with his group and the company. He mentioned that the group was neither a team nor a family.
Following this, n.CH Entertainment released a statement announcing that Eddie will not be participating in upcoming fan signings due to health reasons. However, fans have criticized this response as potentially an attempt to silence Eddie.
5. HYBE vs. ADOR: Dispute about creative freedom
Within the corporate sphere, HYBE has faced several internal conflicts with its subsidiary ADOR. Management disagreements over creative direction and resource allocation led to public spats and legal disputes.
Currently, ADOR’s CEO has won a court injunction against HYBE’s shareholders meeting to end her contract. However, the court has also acknowledged HYBE’s statements as facts. The issue remains complicated until further development.
Apart from these, the new-gen idols have continued to face criticism for their vocals and performances, with many netizens alleging that they can’t sing.
Therefore, 2024 has undeniably been a year of intense drama and controversies for K-Pop. As the industry continues to grow, these events highlight the speed of changes that fans will likely encounter. We shall have to wait to find out whether these issues will bring greater transparency and better treatment of artists or continue to spiral K-pop’s PR management into a new direction.
