I’ve written numerous articles about the K-pop industry in the past and highlighted many of its darker aspects. However, this article’s topic is not just a problem in K-pop, it’s a problem with the whole world.

Let’s talk about Big Bang’s Seungri. He was the groups’ beloved maknae (youngest member), and one of three vocalists. The group topped charts with songs such as ‘Bang Bang Bang’ and ‘Fantastic Baby.’ They were one of the best-selling digital groups of all-time in Asia and one of the best-selling boy bands in the world.

On August 21, 2021, Seungri was sentenced to three years in prison. He was convicted on nine charges, including mediating prostitution, purchasing prostitution services for himself and embezzling 528 million won (over 400,000 USD) from the Burning Sun nightclub. After admitting guilt, his sentence was reduced to one and a half years.

Seungri had actually left the group in 2019, when the Burning Sun scandal began to emerge. The Burning Sun scandal was a sexual assault and drug scandal, among other things. The K-pop idols involved include Seungri, former F.T. Island member Choi Jong-hoon, and singer Jung Joon-Young. I chose to highlight Seungri as he was the most popular before the scandal—Big Bang was huge.

As you can imagine, Seungri’s involvement coming to light had drastic effects. Big Bang halted their activities, and the scandal defaced their public image and brought down their popularity. The scandal brought attention to such issues as corruption and sexual misconduct, yet it also damaged public trust in the K-pop industry.

Barely a year later, Kris Wu, former member of Exo, was sentenced to 13 years in prison by a Chinese court. 11 years and six months for rape, and one year and ten months for group obscenity. He was subsequently fined for tax evasion and will be deported from China after finishing his sentence.

Most recently, on August 28, 2024, SM Entertainment announced Taeil’s departure from the boy group NCT. Their statement read:

“This is SM Entertainment.

We have recently confirmed that Taeil has been implicated in a criminal case related to sexual crimes.

While looking into the situation, we recognized that the issue is very serious and we have decided that Taeil could no longer continue team activities. We have discussed this matter with Taeil and it has been decided he will be removed from the group.

Currently, Taeil is faithfully cooperating with the police investigation. We will share additional statements as the investigation progresses.

We deeply apologize for the controversy caused by our artist.”

Based on the statement, fans speculate there is hard evidence against Taeil, and it’s probably horrific. Typically, companies will investigate and confirm details first before kicking a member out. On top of that, SM isn’t a company known to take such decisive action. In 2021, there was a scandal involving another member of NCT, Lucas. All SM did was announce his indefinite hiatus, and on April 1, 2024, they redebuted him as a soloist. Yet, in Taeil’s case, they released their statement before any media outlet was even aware something had happened.

The events surrounding Seungri, Kris Wu, and now Taeil underline a concerning pattern within the Korean entertainment industry. These scandals reveal not only failings of the individuals, but also systemic issues of power, accountability, and the treatment of allegations of misconduct.

Ultimately, society needs reform. Not just in South Korea, but around the world. According to the World Health Organization, about 1 in 3 women globally have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Victims of sexual violence are at a higher risk of developing mental health issues, with studies showing that up to 50% of survivors experience PTSD. Estimates suggest that only 15-20% of sexual assaults are reported to authorities.

Yes, these truths are uncomfortable and yes, it feels awful when a celebrity you idolized turns out to be so problematic. I hope this article serves as a reminder to not be fooled by the carefully crafted narratives you’re fed—you don’t really know your faves.