8 Of The Most Notorious Celebrities In The Korean Entertainment Industry

From DUIs to sex crimes, these once brightly shining stars fell from grace after various scandals. Some of these scandals ended with prison sentences.

1. Jo Hyung Ki

Actor Jo Hyung Ki began his career in 1979, appearing in a guest role in the K-Drama, Chief Inspector. He continued acting through the ’80s, making a name for himself in supporting roles.

In 1991, Jo killed a woman in her thirties while driving under the influence of alcohol and then attempted to hide her body. He was found sleeping in his car near where he hid the body and was arrested. After serving one year, Jo was released from prison, and he went on to appear on variety shows and various acting projects. This includes a car advertisement, which came out in 2003. In 2017, Jo’s crime resurfaced, and he retired from the industry.

2. Lee Hyun Woo

This controversial star debuted in 1991 as a singer. After achieving significant popularity in the 1990s, he transitioned into acting. Lee was also a judge on the popular talent program Mr. Trot Season 2 (2022).

He earned his infamous nickname, “Grand Hyun Woo,” signifying that he won the Grand Slam for committing crimes, after surviving multiple career-ending scandals. In 1993, he was arrested for smoking cannabis but not punished. He later moved to the U.S. and caused further controversies by only returning after he was too old for Korea’s mandatory military service.

In 2006 and 2007 Lee was involved in two consecutive drunk driving incidents. Despite this, Lee starred in commercials for Hyundai soon after his DUIs. Then in 2008, GBS, a struggling broadcasting company, was reportedly acquired by Lee Hyun Woo. The news bumped up the company’s stock prices, but only ten days later, it was announced that the acquisition had been canceled. The stock prices plunged, hurting investors, but allegedly GBS’s operational forces greatly profited from this incident.

3. Go Young Wook

Go Young Wook is a former member of the first-generation K-Pop group Roo’Ra. In 2013, he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting three minors between 2010 and 2012. Go tried to return to social media in 2020 but was quickly banned on Instagram as sex offenders are prohibited on the platform. Go attempted to open a YouTube channel as well, which was also shut down after immense backlash.

4. DJ Yesong

DJ Yesong was once a member of the pre-debut K-Pop girl group Instar. After its presumed disbandment in 2018, the former idol went on to become a popular DJ. Earlier this year, she was arrested after killing a deliveryman in a DUI accident. Prosecutors originally asked for a 15-year sentence for the crime. In July, DJ Yesong was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

5. Han Seo Hee

The name Han Seo Hee has become synonymous with celebrity scandals. This ex-trainee, who once aspired to become a K-Pop idol and dated BIGBANG‘s T.O.P, has been involved in several high-profile celebrity controversies. Han herself  was sentenced to four years of probation and 120 hours of drug treatment sessions for smuggling and buying cannabis and LSD.

6. Jung Joon Young

Jung Joon Young, a former musician and variety show cast member (2 Days & 1 Night and We Got Married), is one of the most notorious, if not the most notorious celebrity involved in the 2019 Burning Sun scandal.

He was the owner of the infamous KakaoTalk chatrooms that distributed videos of illegally filmed sex acts and rapes. Jung was initially sentenced to six years in prison for gang rape and sharing illegal sex videos. After serving five years, he was released in March 2024.

7. Seungri

Seungri is a former member of the megapopular second-generation K-Pop boy group BIGBANG, who retired from the industry after the Burning Sun scandal.

Seungri was initially sentenced to three years in prison for arranging sex trafficking, illicit gambling, and several other charges, but this sentence was reduced to one year and six months. He was released from prison in February 2023.

8. Choi Jonghoon

Choi Jonghoon, a former member of the K-Rock band F.T. Island, who also served time for his role in the Burning Sun scandal.

Choi was arrested for sharing explicit photos and videos of women taken without their consent in a KakaoTalk chatroom, with charges of gang rape being added later. He was initially sentenced to five years in prison, but the sentence was reduced to two. After being released in November 2021, he attempted to return to the industry.