An entertainment media journalist with the initials A was officially charged by the Prosecutor's Office on charges of defamation related to false news regarding the involvement of former THE BOYZ member, Ju Haknyeon, in prostitution practices.
According to legal authorities on Tuesday (June 2, 2026), the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office's Criminal Division 1 transferred the case file of journalist A to the court with a non-detention status on May 12, 2026.
The journalist is charged under the Law on the Utilization of Information and Communication Networks for defamation. The case began in June of last year, when journalist A published an article claiming that Ju Haknyeon was engaging in prostitution with former Japanese adult film star Asuka Kirara at a bar in Tokyo.
In his report, the journalist claimed to have obtained the information from the Japanese media outlet Shukan Bunshun. In response to the accusations, Ju Haknyeon immediately strongly denied the contents of the report and filed a lawsuit for alleged defamation.
The prosecution stated that after thoroughly examining the statements of the relevant parties, including recordings of conversations between Ju Haknyeon and his then-agency, One Hundred, the accusations against journalist A were proven to be legally valid.
The news significantly impacted Ju Haknyeon's career. His agency, One Hundred, released an official statement announcing Ju Haknyeon's departure from THE BOYZ and the termination of his exclusive contract after in-depth discussions with the other members.
In addition to the lawsuit filed by Ju Haknyeon's side, the former idol was also reported by a third party for violating the Act on the Punishment of the Regulation of Prostitution.
However, the police decided not to pursue the investigation (closed the case) on the grounds that the report was based solely on an internet article and lacked sufficient evidence or concrete circumstances to initiate an investigation.
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