Juhaknyeon Addresses Controversy: 'I Felt Like I Wanted to Die'

Juhaknyeon (주학년), a former member of the boy group THE BOYZ, has released a third statement regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding his personal life, vehemently opposing his agency's termination of his contract and the demand for a hefty penalty fee. He expressed his distress, stating, "I even felt like I wanted to die" due to the unfounded stigma of being labeled a sex offender.

On June 22, Juhaknyeon took to his personal social media to share that he learned about the existence of a photo before it was reported in the media. He immediately informed his agency of the situation and sought assistance, deciding to suspend his activities to minimize any potential harm to his fellow members while discussions for further actions were ongoing.

However, he claimed that the agency abruptly notified him of the contract termination and demanded he sign an agreement for over 2 billion KRW (approximately $1.7 million) in penalties, stating there was no room for negotiation. After refusing to sign on the 17th, he alleged that the next day, a unilateral announcement of his departure was made.

Previously, the Japanese media outlet Weekly Bunshun reported that Juhaknyeon had met with former AV actress Asuka Kirara and suggested allegations of prostitution. Following this report, his agency, One Hundred Percent, stated they would take legal action if false claims continued.

In response, Juhaknyeon expressed that articles about his alleged meeting with the AV actress began surfacing even before the Weekly Bunshun report, leading to him being treated as a disgraceful sex offender overnight. He noted that shortly after the article's release, individuals began to come forward to accuse him, suggesting a framework was being set up for his contract termination.

He voiced his fear of being permanently branded as a sex offender if he remained silent, announcing that he has filed a lawsuit against the journalist who wrote the false report and is preparing a civil lawsuit against the media outlet. He also plans to sue those who accused him of false allegations.

Juhaknyeon expressed his deep apologies to his fans for his reckless behavior, stating, "I sincerely regret my actions. However, I have not engaged in any acts that would tarnish my dignity, such as prostitution, sexual assault, or drug use. The company expelled me without adhering to the contract termination clauses outlined in our agreement." He further revealed the emotional toll the situation has taken on him, saying, "I feel like I am being pointed at by people, and it has been so overwhelming that I have thought about wanting to die. But I will endure because there are still people who support me."

Currently, Juhaknyeon and his agency are at odds, and the situation is likely to escalate into a legal battle. In light of Juhaknyeon's serious revelations, many netizens are calling for caution, urging against a witch hunt before the truth is revealed, with comments like, "We shouldn't jump to conclusions before the truth comes out" and "This could lead to real harm."

Meanwhile, Weekly Bunshun has further fueled the controversy by releasing a photo on June 21, allegedly showing Juhaknyeon and Asuka Kirara in a back hug in Tokyo's Roppongi.