10+ Most Controversial News Of 2024

2024 saw unprecedented levels of controversies across South Korea involving celebrities and public figures of every stature and kind.

Here are 10+ of the major controversial news that left the biggest impact:

Hyeri, Ryu Jun Yeol, And Han So Hee’s Relationship Drama

In March 2024, Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol were rumored to be in a relationship. Around the same time, Ryu’s ex-girlfriend, idol-turned-actress Hyeri, uploaded a suggestive Instagram story sparking speculations of “transit love.” The speculations turned into vitriol after Han and Ryu confirmed their relationship, prompting Han to directly address the accusations multiple times on social media. But the tumultuous romance didn’t last long, as the couple announced their breakup on March 30, only two weeks after confirming it.

HYBE Vs. Min Hee Jin Legal Battle

In April, Korean media reported that HYBE had asked Min Hee Jin, then-CEO of its subsidiary ADOR, to step down amid a power struggle. The conglomerate accused Min of trying to leave HYBE and turn ADOR into a separate entity. After months of public feuds and a lengthy legal battle, Min stepped down from her CEO post and is pursuing multiple lawsuits against the executives of HYBE and its subsidiaries.

LE SSERAFIM’s Live Singing At Coachella

In April 2024, LE SSERAFIM performed at Coachella 2024. The performance ended up under harsh scrutiny following the group’s live vocals. The criticism was particularly sharp for Sakura, given that she is an industry veteran, not a rookie idol. She addressed the criticism in a statement in Weverse and thanked fans for their support.

Tzuyang‘s Harrowing Abuse

The popular mukbang YouTube creator Tzuyang left the internet shaken after it was revealed in July 2024 that she had been severely abused by her ex-boyfriend, who was also the CEO of her former agency. His abusive behavior amounted to not only monetary extortion but also blackmailing and physical violence. She went on a three-month hiatus, disappearing from the public eye after the case came to the surface. She made her return in October.

BLACKPINK Jennie’s Indoor Smoking

Jennie smoking Vape 💨 in her vlog pic.twitter.com/yi3DH8DsQW

— no na (@nona15648321) July 8, 2024

In July 2024, Jennie was spotted on video smoking an electronic cigarette indoors while in Capri, Italy. The clip immediately caused widespread outrage as netizens pointed out that Capri’s laws strictly prohibit people from smoking in enclosed spaces. Additionally, Jennie was criticized for smoking in close proximity to her staff as they worked. Jennie apologized for the incident in an official statement released by her agency, Odd Atelier.

The New Nth Room

In August 2024, South Korea grappled with the emergence of a “new nth room,” a set of Telegram sex chat rooms with more than 212,000 participants. It was revealed that to gain access to these rooms, one must submit a set of photos of any girl or woman around themselves, such as classmates, siblings, or friends, and provide the girl’s personal details. Rooms also containing deepfake pornography were exposed as well, with netizens exposing a list of schools where perpetrators and victims have been located. The controversy prompted President Yoon Suk Yeol to call for a serious investigation into the issue, but since then, no considerable progress has materialized in this case.

Bang Si Hyuk And Juice Seyeon

In August 2024, while HYBE was already in hot waters due to its legal feud with Min Hee Jin, the conglomerate’s founder was caught in Beverly Hills with 2 AFREECA BJs. One of the BJs was a controversial influencer called Juice Seyeon, best known for her racy livestreams. The rendezvous invited scathing criticism for Bang, even sparking sponsorship accusations. HYBE denied the rumors, stating it was a coincidental meeting.

BTS SUGA’s DUI

In September 2024, Suga got embroiled in a DUI incident after he was found driving a seated scooter while drunk. The incident prompted a police investigation, inviting much public attention. The idol penned a personal message to his fans, apologizing for the scandal. The case concluded with the Seoul Court issuing a summary order of a fine of ₩15.0 million KRW (about $11,200 USD) to Suga.

Jessi And The Fan Assault Incident

In October 2024, singer Jessi was embroiled in a controversy where a male fan approaching her was beaten up by one of her acquaintances. The singer faced intense backlash after the incident as netizens suspected her involvement in the issue. The singer was found innocent in a police investigation, but the incident prompted her departure from her agency.

Former NCT’s Taeil Investigated For Rape

In October 2024, Taeil was charged with aggravated rape of an intoxicated woman. The victim was speculated to be a foreign national. Following the scandal, Taeil withdrew from the group, and SM Entertainment terminated his exclusive contract. He is still under investigation.

HYBE Internal Documents Leak

In October 2024, the K-Pop industry was shaken up when HYBE’s internal documents were leaked during the National Assembly audit. The document titled “Music Industry Report” contained much inflammatory content, including badmouthing artists of their own subsidiaries and other agencies. HYBE responded to the controversy by removing the executive in charge of creating the reports, and the CEO eventually apologized for the disrespectful comments in the documents. Read more about it here.

Former MADEIN Gaeun’s Sexual Assault

In November 2024, Gaeun came forward and shared the details of her alleged sexual assault at the hands of her agency’s CEO. The idol stated that she was forcibly kissed and molested after she asked to leave MADEIN. She was a minor at the time of this alleged assault. Following this exposé, her agency denied her claims, and Gaeun left the group. There haven’t been much public updates on the case ever since.

NewJeans Leaves ADOR

Amid Min HeeJin’ss power struggle with HYBE, NewJeans’ Hanni accused the conglomerate of workplace harassment, leading to a National Assembly audit. Following the audit, the group held a surprise livestream to make demands from ADOR in exchange for staying with the label and gave them a deadline. After the deadline was crossed, on November 28, the group held an emergency press conference to announce the termination of their contracts with ADOR, but the label responded, saying the termination wasn’t lawful. Currently, the two parties are involved in a lawsuit regarding the matter.

Jung Woo Sung And Moon Gabi

In November 2024, model Moon Gabi came back from a four-year hiatus to share that she had given birth to a baby. Shortly after, it was reported that actor Jung Woo Sung was the father, which his agency confirmed. This news created a significant buzz since the pair have not been in an official relationship. But criticism against Jung started pouring in after it was reported that he allegedly had a long-term girlfriend who was unaware of his involvement with Moon Gabi. A later report also claimed that Jung was cheating on his long-term girlfriend with a 98-liner non-celebrity.

The allegations have resulted in the actor avoiding brand deals in 2024 and issuing a public apology at an award show.

Marital Law And Yoon Suk Yeol’s Impeachment

On December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol left the world aghast after he abruptly declared martial law. South Korean citizens immediately took to the streets to thwart attempts to execute it on the ground. Meanwhile, opposition politicians fought to get the martial law withdrawn. Yoon was then impeached by a parliamentary vote, and following that, even the acting President, Han Duck Soo, was impeached on December 27. Currently, President Yoon Suk Yeol is fighting an arrest warrant in his name after he failed to show up for multiple summonses as a part of an ongoing investigation against him.