Dispatch has unveiled the full timeline and circumstances surrounding Joo Haknyeon’s controversial night with Japanese AV actress Asuka Kirara, a scandal that has since resulted in his removal from boy group THE BOYZ. At the same time, Joo Haknyeon presented the situation as a symbolic fight—one between the powerless (himself, attending a private gathering with an AV actress) and the powerful (his agency, pressuring him to quit). He said, “I’m determined to see this through to the end in search of the truth. I hope this fight becomes a small source of hope for someone out there.”
So what exactly is Joo Haknyeon claiming to be so unjust? While Joo vehemently denies any prostitution, the detailed 5W1H breakdown shows how a single night unraveled his idol career.
The Full 5W1H of the Incident, as Reconstructed by Dispatch
- When: May 30, 2025
- Who: Joo Haknyeon, Male A (Japanese designer), Male B (designer’s acquaintance), Asuka Kirara (AV actress), and Japanese women C, D, and E
- Where: A pub at 1:00 AM, karaoke at 2:00 AM, private room at 4:00 AM, Kirara’s home at 6:00 AM
- What: The group drank together, moved venues through the night, and ended with Joo accompanying Kirara to her home. He returned to his hotel—the group’s accommodation—the next morning.
- How: According to Japanese media Shukan Bunshun, Joo and Kirara were seen hugging on the streets of Roppongi and taking a taxi to her residence. The media requested agency clarification regarding their relationship.
- Why: After internal investigation, Joo’s agency, OneHundred, concluded that the combination of drinking with an AV actress, PDA in public, and an unauthorized hotel absence risked damaging the group’s image, especially given their young female fanbase.
The confirmed facts are: Joo Haknyeon drank with Asuka Kirara, went to her home after the gathering, and returned to the group’s hotel the next morning. Initially, Joo confessed to attending the gathering and going home with Kirara, saying during his interview with the agency: “I didn’t pay. The others paid. I don’t want to cause any more harm to the members.” But after his removal was decided, he backtracked, stating: “I didn’t actually sleep with her. I just said that to sound cool.”
The agency had two major concerns: first, the potential public backlash if affectionate photos with an AV actress were to leak; second, the legal risks if anyone in the group had paid for the women’s presence. The agency cited Clause 6, Section 3 of his contract, allowing termination for acts that compromise an artist’s dignity, as justification for severing ties. The agency believed the gathering with an AV actress and public affection could negatively affect the group, which has a strong female fanbase.
Joo now argues that he was punished for association, not criminal behavior. “I was drunk, but it wasn’t prostitution,” he stated. He framed his removal as symbolic of a larger injustice, adding: “People like me, who have nothing, can be destroyed by accusations of things we didn’t even do.” He also challenged his agency and the media: “If there is any evidence of prostitution, please release it immediately.”
In response to Dispatch’s inquiry, Asuka Kirara briefly commented: “Aside from professional work, I’ve never once engaged in prostitution. No matter the amount of money offered, I’ve never accepted money for sex in private.” She declined further interviews.
At its core, the scandal isn’t about legal wrongdoing but rather judgment, image, and consequences. For Joo Haknyeon, the true damage may lie not in what was done—but in what was perceived.
