From left, actor Lee Yi-kyung, actor Kim Soo-hyun, aespa’s Karina and comic Park Na-rae / Xportsnews
What was speculated to be a yr of restoration and celebration in Korean leisure as a substitute become a cycle of controversy, investigations and shock revelations. From authorized battles and social scandals to emotional well being scares and sudden profession collapses, 2025 grew to become a yr the place the business’s largest names repeatedly made headlines — usually for the improper causes.
Korean leisure is not any stranger to drama, however this yr felt totally different. On-line communities and social platforms buzzed nonstop as allegations led to police investigations, controversies triggered program exits, and previous incidents resurfaced, amplifying public fatigue and debate.
Clockwise from prime left, former T-ara member Ahreum, actor Hwang Jung-eum, singer Psy, and TV character Park Soo-hong / Xportsnews, captured from social media
Courtrooms, investigations dominate superstar information
If one phrase outlined the yr, it was “courtroom.” Authorized disputes and prosecutorial probes overshadowed abnormal leisure protection, turning each day superstar information into what many Koreans described as “case recordsdata.”
Actress Hwang Jung-eum was indicted with out detention on costs of company fund embezzlement, sending shockwaves by means of the business. Former T-ara member Ahreum acquired a suspended jail sentence in a fraud case, reigniting long-standing controversy round her public picture.
In the meantime, broadcaster Lee Jin-ho, already on hiatus over an unlawful playing scandal, confronted additional backlash after a drunk-driving incident, successfully ending his profession presence in mainstream media.
Household-related authorized disputes additionally drew intense consideration. On Dec. 19, the elder brother of TV character Park Soo-hong acquired a jail sentence in a high-profile second trial ruling, exposing years of household battle that spilled painfully into the general public eye.
Singer Psy additionally got here beneath scrutiny after authorities performed a search and seizure on Dec. 11 associated to allegations of “proxy prescription” and off-site managed substance supply — a socially delicate difficulty in Korea’s present public well being local weather. Whereas investigators are nonetheless figuring out the details, the case has fueled public debate over ethics and accountability.
Prime row from left, late actress Kim Sae-ron and actor Kim Soo-hyun, second row, aespa’s Karina, third row, Hong Jin-kyung and her handwritten letter, and fourth row from left, actor Lee Yi-kyung and comic Jo Se-ho / Xportsnews, captured from social media
One controversy sparked the subsequent, and previous scandals resurfaced
Past crime-related instances, controversy itself grew to become contagious.
After the loss of life of actor Kim Sae-ron earlier this yr, her household raised allegations involving actor Kim Soo-hyun and a relationship when she was a minor, triggering a storm of dispute, rebuttals, hypothesis and emotionally divided responses on-line — underscoring how superstar scandals now transfer quickly by means of grief, judgment and outrage.
Politically tinged disputes additionally surged throughout Korea’s snap presidential elections in June, when even clothes colours worn by stars akin to aespa’s Karina and Hong Jin-kyung had been interpreted as political alerts, turning vogue selections into heated debates.
A number of controversies escalated to program exits or group departures. THE BOYZ member Ju Haknyeon left the group in June following reviews of a personal assembly with a former grownup movie actress in Japan, whereas comic Jo Se-ho confronted backlash and stepped away from actions after alleged ties to organized crime surfaced.
Singer MC Mong and actress Lee Da-in exchanged heated public accusations, culminating in MC Mong revealing that he had beforehand tried an excessive act — a confession that shocked the nation.
Affair and assault allegations surrounding singer Yun Ddan Ddan, in addition to disputes tied to actor Choi Jung-won, added to the mounting sense of business turmoil. Rumors surrounding actor Lee Yi-kyung even unfold to veteran host Yoo Jae-seok, extending the controversy far past its authentic supply.
From left, actor Cho Jin-woong, SHINee’s Key, comic Park Na-rae, and mukbang star Brief Mouth Solar / Xportsnews
Yr-end exposes push public exhaustion to the restrict
Because the yr drew to an in depth, revelations intensified. Actor Cho Jin-woong was revealed to have been a juvenile offender in his previous — a disclosure that led to his retirement from the leisure business, adopted by extra allegations that he assaulted a junior colleague, additional igniting debate over how far society ought to dig into celebrities’ private histories.
One of many largest broadcast business controversies was the so-called “injection aunt” scandal. Entertainer Park Na-rae, who was already beneath criticism for alleged mistreatment of her supervisor, grew to become embroiled in suspicions of receiving unlawful beauty procedures. The difficulty unfold quickly, resulting in program exits involving different figures together with SHINee’s Key and YouTuber Brief Mouth Solar, triggering a domino impact throughout a number of leisure packages.
Businesses issued statements and private explanations one after one other, however the stigma surrounding alleged unlawful medical exercise has solely widened, affecting manufacturing groups, castmates and full reveals, at the same time as investigations proceed.
Clockwise from prime left, actor Jin Tae-hyun, comic Park Mi-Solar, entertainer Kim Soo-yong, and actress Nana / Xportsnews, captured from social media
Well being scares and private crises draw concern alongside controversy
Not all tales centered on scandal; some prompted empathy and concern.
Actor Jin Tae-hyun underwent thyroid most cancers surgical procedure, and veteran comic Park Mi-sun revealed she was battling most cancers, prompting waves of public assist. Actress Nana shocked followers when she was concerned in a house intrusion incident on Nov. 15, and singer Sung Si-kyung drew consideration after a betrayal dispute involving his supervisor. Information of entertainer Kim Soo-yong experiencing cardiac arrest additionally left followers shaken.
With a number of stars stepping again from work on account of medical and psychological stress, many viewers felt the emotional toll mirrored the relentless pressure of the business itself.
A yr the place threat overshadowed leisure
By the tip of 2025, Korean leisure appeared much less like a playground of superstar glamour and extra like a subject of escalating threat. Allegations led to probes, previous incidents had been unearthed, and public stress usually resulted in resignations or withdrawals. The cycle repeated, and the exhaustion was palpable.
The business now enters the brand new yr with unresolved questions — and a rising hope that future headlines will heart on creativity and achievement slightly than controversy and investigation.
This text from Xportsnews is tailored by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Occasions.
