The police have launched an investigation into the prostitution allegations against Jo Hak-nyeon (26) of the group The Boyz. In this context, interest is focused on the existence of a third party, namely a broker, during the prostitution process.
According to A, who reported Jo Hak-nyeon for prostitution allegations, the case has been assigned to the Women's and Youth Division of the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul and a formal investigation has begun.
A stated on the 19th through the National Report Center, “I request an investigation and clarification regarding the former producer of the agency,” and added, “According to media reports, the producer has also been excluded from work due to issues related to prostitution.”
A further urged, “This is a structural problem within the entertainment industry that may involve violations of laws against prostitution solicitation, and a thorough investigation is needed not only into direct involvement but also into whether there was complicity or tacit approval.”
He pointed out, “This case should not be minimized as an individual’s deviation, and it cannot be ruled out that not only the celebrity but also agency staff, outsourced producers, and brokers in Japan may have been involved in an organized manner.”
Additionally, he emphasized, “If it is revealed that multiple affiliated celebrities, staff, outsourced producers, and third parties from Japan were systematically or repeatedly involved in prostitution, this case should not be reduced to an individual crime but should be expanded to investigate the structural issues of prostitution solicitation and complicity within the entertainment industry.”
Earlier, on the 18th, a media outlet reported that Jo Hak-nyeon met former AV actress Asuka Kirara at a private bar in Tokyo at the end of May, where they engaged in physical contact such as hugging, causing a stir.
In response, the agency One Hundred said, “We take the seriousness of this matter very seriously and clearly recognize that it is difficult to maintain trust as an artist,” and added, “After sufficient discussions with the members of The Boyz, we have finalized Jo Hak-nyeon’s withdrawal from the team and the termination of his exclusive contract.”
Jo Hak-nyeon acknowledged the meeting with Asuka but denied the allegations of prostitution.
Jo Hak-nyeon debuted as a member of The Boyz in December 2017. He is a contestant from the Mnet audition program ‘Produce 101’ Season 2, where he maintained a rank within the top 11 of the debut group but ultimately ranked 19th and did not debut as a member of the project group Wanna One.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
