“If I have to pay for it, my life is over.” Those were the emotional words of former THE BOYZ member Joo Haknyeon as he opened up in an exclusive interview with Billboard about the fallout from his alleged tryst with retired Japanese AV actress Asuka Kirara — and the incredible lawsuit that followed.
The incident dates back to May 29, 2025, when THE BOYZ attended the Asia Star Entertainer Awards in Yokohama, Japan. According to Joo, after the ceremony ended at 10pm, he went for drinks with friends at a local bar, where he met Asuka Kirara for the first time.
“It was a large group. I was introduced to her that night. As far as I know, she retired five to seven years ago,” he said, clarifying that their conversation was casual and focused on Kirara’s post-acting ventures in cosmetics and beauty. “We chatted, had a drink. I’m 27: adults drink, right?”
However, a tabloid storm erupted after photos of the pair emerged in Japanese newspaper Shukan Bunshun, sparking accusations of inappropriate behaviour. Joo strongly denied any wrongdoing, saying: “I have never spent the night with Asuka Kirara. I don’t know why they published such claims without any evidence.”
Joo believes the images were secretly taken and sold to the press, perhaps by someone present at the meeting. The scandal intensified when ONE HUNDRED, his management agency, took legal action against him. The company initially asked for KRW 2 billion (about $1.5 million) in damages, later increasing the claim to KRW 8 billion (over $6 million) without explanation.
Despite pressure to sign a contract termination agreement, Joo Haknyeon resisted.
“I apologized and felt guilty. But I couldn’t accept that number. If I had to pay it, I would be bankrupt. I cried a lot, I kept saying I can’t do this,” he tearfully shared.
Controversy first erupted in early June, when rumors of an alleged romantic encounter surfaced. On June 19, Joo publicly confirmed that she attended a drinking party on May 30, but denied any involvement in prostitution or illegal activities.
Asuka Kirara also issued a denial on June 21, explaining that she was invited to the bar after a friend’s birthday party and had no idea Joo would be there. She, too, suspected that obsessive fans may have taken and sold the photos that caused the uproar.
This case has sparked a broader debate about celebrity privacy, power dynamics in K-pop, and how male idols are scrutinized in relation to female figures with controversial pasts, even when no illegal acts are involved.
As the lawsuit continues, Joo Haknyeon’s revelations may prompt a reconsideration of how entertainment companies use legal and media tools to control their artists and how easily public perceptions can be influenced by unsubstantiated headlines.
Sources: Znews
