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Celine Ham

This past year, a slew of K-pop stars got caught up in shocking scandals, some of which even threatened to destroy their careers. From Red Velvet’s Irene being accused of bullying to former iKon member B.I going to court over drug usage, these incidents shocked fans and dominated headlines, prompting the stars involved to retreat from the spotlight – at least for a while.
So which K-pop stars attempted comebacks following scandals … and how successful were they?
4 Korean stars who found fame … with a little help from celebrity friends
Red Velvet’s Irene

In October 2020, fans of girl group Red Velvet were shocked to hear allegations that vocalist Irene, whose real name is Bae Joo-hyun, had bullied her stylist. The news sparked a swathe of criticism from fans, and even calls that Irene withdraw from the group, leading to her retreating from the spotlight from some time. The seven-year-old band also put a pause on making public appearances together.
Then, on August 16, Red Velvet released its sixth EP, Queendom – with Irene included. Since the release, Irene has been active on social media, reconnecting with her fans. At the same time, netizens have shown mixed responses to her return to singing. Some say she still does not deserve to be part of Red Velvet, while others have accepted her apology and welcomed her back.
TVXQ’s Yunho

Yunho, one half of the duo TVXQ, went from being described as “diligent and passionate” by fans to “irresponsible and inappropriate”. The reason for his worsened reputation? He was accused of violating social distancing rules. To make matters worse, these accusations came while he was caught hanging out at an illegal members-only escort bar, which was falsely registered as a restaurant. He visited the venue amid increasing coronavirus cases in South Korea earlier this year.
Yunho apologised to his fans for his behaviour in an Instagram post. “I am very sorry to the health care workers who are working hard and dealing with a difficult situation due to Covid-19, and to everyone who has been going through difficult and tiring days,” he wrote, according to The Straits Times.
BTS, K-pop kings … and descendants of Korean royalty?
Months later, it was announced that TVXQ – including Yunho – would host a new children’s web variety show called Check This Out. The show, which started airing on July 30, involves TVXQ creating a children’s book together with four children. The book is set for release in September. However, the show and the upcoming book were met with backlash, with some netizens commenting on Allkpop that Yunho is an “inappropriate role model for growing children”.
AOA’s Seolhyun

Seolhyun, whose real name is Kim Seol-hyun, first stepped into the world of showbiz as part of K-pop girl group AOA. She is also an actress who has appeared in K-dramas Ugly Alert (2013) and My Country: The New Age (2019), and has received numerous advertising offers too. Most notably, she became more well-known after a commercial for SK Telecom, a South Korean mobile carrier.
However, Seolhyun’s popularity nosedived when a former member of AOA, Mina, revealed that she had been bullied by member Jimin – and that Seolhyun stood by and did nothing to intervene. Following these accusations, Seolhyun faced mounting pressure to quit her role in the drama Day and Night.
So far, Seolhyun hasn’t offered her side of the story. But after disappearing from social media and the public eye for months, she made a comeback last week by launching a YouTube channel. In her first video, she is seen making DIY pottery – and it seems that fans are excited about her return.


Former iKon member B.I

B.I debuted in 2015 as part of the K-pop boy group iKon launched by YG Entertainment. The group was on the road to global stardom after releasing the hit song Love Scenario (2018) before news of a drug scandal began to spread. In June 2019, it was reported that B.I had bought and consumed marijuana in 2016. (Cannabis use was illegal in South Korea until 2018 … and even now, it can only be used for medical purposes.) Online portal Dispatch claimed to have copies of chat messages where B.I asked an anonymous contact how to get and use LSD, too.

YG Entertainment subsequently faced hefty criticism, as several stars from the agency had already been involved in drug scandals before. Following the allegations, B.I left iKon, posting an apology letter for his fans on Instagram. According to The Jakarta Post, the said he was “extremely embarrassed and sorry”.
“It’s true that I had interest … but I was too scared and worried to follow through,” the singer said, denying actually using the drugs. However, he later admitted to the charges in September 2019, according to The Straits Times.
Why is Korea so quick to cancel its stars?
B.I’s first court hearing for the ongoing drug case took place on August 27. Prosecutors are asking for the former iKon member to be sentenced to three years in prison and fined US$1,300 for illegal drug use. The final ruling is expected to take place on September 10.
But the drug scandal has not prevented B.I from returning to the stage, as he released a new solo album called “Waterfall” this year.
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K-pop scandals

4 K-pop idols who bounced back from scandals: Irene was in Red Velvet’s Queendom EP despite bullying allegations, while TVXQ’s Yunho hosts a new show after allegedly violating social distancing rules

AOA’s Seolhyun, Red Velvet’s Irene and TVXQ’s Yunho are just a few K-pop idols who have been embroiled in scandals. Photos: @sh_9513; @renebaebae; @yunho2154/Instagram

Red Velvet vocalist Irene was accused of bullying by her stylist. Photo: @redvelvet.smtown/Instagram

TVXQ’s Yunho was caught violating social distancing rules earlier this year. Photo: @tvxq.official/Instagram

Seolhyun from AOA, who was accused of turning a blind eye to bullying by former bandmate Mina. Photo: @sh_9513/Instagram

K-pop boy band iKon performs onstage at KOCCA during the 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Moody Theatre in Austin, Texas. Photo: Getty Images for SXSW

Former iKon member B.I was caught up in a drug use scandal. Photo: @shxxbi131/Instagram

4 times Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shot themselves in the foot in 2021: from their ‘patronising’ and ‘meaningless’ Archewell statement, to throwing shade at Queen Elizabeth

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Since being based in California, the couple have been highly visible on social media and television, and not by accident. Photo: Apple TV

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Piers Morgan wasted no time in weighing in with his opinion about the Sussexes’ “tone deaf” statement concerning the situation in Afghanistan and Haiti. Photo: GOR/GC Images

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry can’t seem to do anything right this year – is the fairy tale over, or are they just going through a rough patch like the rest of the world? Photo: AP 

Meghan Markle and Queen Elizabeth in happier times: will their relationship ever recover? Photo: Getty Images

After much media coverage of their candid Oprah interview, Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry have launched an Apple TV+ series on mental health. Photo: Handout

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Did the queen approve of the couple’s name for their child, given that it’s also her nickname? We’ll likely never know. Photo: AFP

Queen Elizabeth with the couple at Royal Ascot in 2018 before they officially left the royal family and were relieved of their official duties. Photo: Getty Images

Kate Middleton’s uncle Gary called Harry and Meghan “muppets craving attention” in a since-deleted LinkedIn post. Ouch. Photo: Getty Images

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Karen is known for her one-liners on the show, and is the self proclaimed “Grand Dame” of RHOP. Photo: @officialkarenhuger/Instagram

Karen has used her new-found fame to launch a fragrance called La’ Dame. Photo: Real Housewives of Potomac/Facebook

Ashley is married to Australian real estate millionaire Michael Darby whom she once ran a restaurant with. Photo:@ashleyboalchdarby/Instagram

Mia is the newest cast member to RHOP and owns 10 branches of a successful chiropractic firm, among other businesses. Photo: @mrs.miathornton/Instagram

Her other brand, Amilleon London, sells everything from cruelty free beauty products to sassy slogan candles. Photo:@mrs.miathornton/Instagram

Not only did Candiace win the title of Miss USA, among others, but she also runs a pageant consulting business. Photo:@candeegal09/Instagram

Few realise that Candiace also worked as a staffer on Obama’s re-election campaign. Photo: @candeegal09/Instagram

Despite splitting from her celebrity pastor husband in 2009, Gizelle attempted to rekindle her relationship with him earlier this year. Photo:@gizellebryant/Instagram

Gizelle has launched her own make-up line and written a book. Photo: @gizellebryant/Instagram

Robyn is one of the four original cast members of RHOP and remains married to former NBA player Juan Dixon. Photo: @robyndixon10/Instagram

Dixon recently launched a range of satin-lined fashion caps under the brand name Embellished. Photo: Real Housewives of Potomac/Facebook

Nigerian-American Wendy Osefo holds multiple degrees and is easily the most academically accomplished of all the housewives. Photo: Real Housewives of Potomac/Facebook

Despite growing up with a single immigrant mother in Maryland, Osefo is now thought to be worth US$1.5 million. Photo: @wendyosefo/Instagram

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Paris Hilton at 20, and 40. Photos: Getty, @parishilton/Instagram

Meghan Markle at 20, and 40. Photos: Pinterest, @archewell_hm/Instagram

Beyoncé at 20, and (nearly) 40. Photos: Getty, @beyonce/Instagram

Jessica Alba at 20, and 40. Photos: Getty, @jessicaalba/Instagram

Kim K at 20, and 40. Photos: Getty, @kimkardashian/Instagram

5 Korean stars who could have been Olympians? Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo were both skaters, plus 3 more famous former athletes

Song Hye-kyo, Park Bo-gum and Song Joong-ki are just a few Korean stars who trained as athletes first. Photos: @kyo1122; @blossom_entertainment; @historydnc/Instagram

Song Joong-ki. Photo: @historydnc/Instagram

Song Hye-kyo. Photo: @kyo1122/Instagram

Park Bo-gum. Photo: @blossom_entertainment/Instagram

So Ji-sub. Photo: @nixkorea.official/Instagram

Kim Yo-han. Photo: @y_haa.n/Instagram

4 K-drama reunions that drove fans wild: before Crash Landing on You, did you know Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin had sizzling chemistry in a crime thriller?

Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin in Crash Landing on You, Go Min-si and Lee Do-hyun in Youth of May, and Choi Woo-sik and Kim Da-mi in the movie The Witch. Photo: TvN, @MaisQINerds, @newsen_t/ Twitter

Crash Landing on You Photo: TvN

Lee Do-hyun and Go Min-si in Youth of May. Photo: KBS

Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin in Crash Landing on You, Photo: Netflix

Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin in The Negotiation. Photo: @LeeJeAe_/Twitter

The cast of Netflix show Sweet Home. Photo: Netflix

Lee Do-hyun and Go Min-si in Netflix’s Sweet Home. Photo: @sweethomenetflix_/Instagram

Lee Do-hyun and Go Min-si in K-drama Youth of May. Photo: @MaisQINerds/Twitter

Choi Woo-sik, Kim Da-mi and Go Min-si in The Witch. Photo: @07gatu/Twitter

Kim Da-mi (left) and Kim Dong-hee in a still from Itaewon Class. Photo: Netflix

Choi Woo-sik as the villain Nobleman in The Witch. Photo: @TEAMWOOSHIK/Twitter

Sung Hoon and Im Soo-hyang. Photos: @sunghoon1983.space/Instagram, @MlleDreamMaker/Twitter

Sung Hoon and Im Soo-hyang in Five Enough. Photo: @hotbam69net/Twitter

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AOA’s Seolhyun returned to the spotlight with a new YouTube channel – after former bandmate Mina accused her of turning a blind eye to bullying from Jimin
Despite admitting to drug use and being embroiled in an ongoing court case, former iKon member B.I still managed to release solo album ‘Waterfall’ this year



Red Velvet’s Irene was accused of bullying while former iKon member B.I is embroiled in a drug-related court case … but they’ve released new music despite the past – or ongoing – furore
