The Possible Legal Consequences For Ju Haknyeon And Former Pornstar Asuka Kirara

A Korean media outlet exposed former THE BOYZ member Ju Haknyeon for allegedly soliciting prostitution from a former Japanese pornstar, Asuka Kirara. THE BOYZ’ agency, One Hundred Label, announced that his contract has been terminated.

In Tenasia‘s report, entertainment industry insiders claimed that Ju Haknyeon had paid Asuka for sex in late May.

Ju Haknyeon met with Asuka Kirara at a private bar in Tokyo in late May. During that night, Ju Haknyeon paid her for sex. He engaged in prostitution.

— Insider A

In their statement, One Hundred Label referred to Ju Haknyeon’s involvement with Asuka as “a controversial incident,” not mentioning the former AV actress by name or sharing details about Ju Haknyeon’s relationship with her.

Hello, this is One Hundred.

We recently took action to suspend Ju Haknyeon’s activities as soon as we were informed that he was involved in a controversial incident in order to take time to thoroughly investigate and verify the facts.

As a result of our investigation, we have recognized the severity of the issue and have taken it seriously. We have realized that it has become difficult to maintain our trust in him as an artist. Due to this, after sufficient discussions with the members of THE BOYZ, we have decided that Ju Haknyeon will be withdrawing from the group and that his exclusive contract will be terminated.

We kindly ask for your understanding that this decision was an inevitable decision made to protect the members of THE BOYZ and the group as a whole. We are informing you that as of today, Ju Haknyeon will no longer be part of THE BOYZ and will cease all activities with the group.

One Hundred Label will spare no effort in fully supporting the remaining members of THE BOYZ so that they can continue to promote in a healthy and stable state.

Once again, we sincerely apologize for causing concern to the fans and we will do our best to repay the fans with better news and promotions in the future.

Thank you

— One Hundred Label

What are the possible legal ramifications? In South Korea, anyone who engages in prostitution, regardless of which country the prostitution takes place in, can be fined up to ₩3.00 million KRW (about $2,180 USD) or sentenced to up to one year in prison. The sex worker who provides the service could be punished, even if they are not a Korean citizen.

Under Korean law, sex workers, regardless of nationality, could face the same penalties as Korean citizens because the law does not specify that it applies only to Koreans: it applies to “any person” who commits the crime. Additionally, the sex worker may also be subject to deportation and an entry ban of up to 10 years, under the Immigration Control Act. In some cases, their sex work earnings are also seized. Reports have stated that Ju Haknyeon and acquaintances were spotted meeting Asuka at a bar in Tokyo’s Roppongi district on May 29.

Although the details of Ju Haknyeon’s contract with One Hundred Label have not been made public, it’s possible that Ju Haknyeon could also face legal consequences in regards to his agency. If his involvement with Asuka constitutes a breach of contract or harms the agency–such as a loss of sponsorship deals or promotions–Ju Haknyeon could be liable for damages.