Cinema VinesFormer Boyz singer Ju Haknyeon has secured a landmark victory in a legal dispute with his former agency, One Hundred Label. In a ruling handed down on July 16 by the 28th Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court, the court dismissed the label’s claim for 8 billion won (about $5.4 million) in damages, finding that there was no valid reason to terminate the artist’s exclusive contract.
The conflict began in June 2025 when Ju was removed from Boyz after rumors surfaced that he had met and socialized with Japanese ex‑adult‑film star Asuka Kirara during a ceremony in Japan. The allegations were followed by a Korean reporter’s false claim that the singer had engaged in prostitution. The accusations were later proven baseless, and the police declined to prosecute the prostitution charge, instead indicting the reporter for defamation.
One Hundred Label’s CEO, Cha Ga Won, justified the termination by stating that Ju had “damaged the dignity of a public cultural artist to the extent that it hinders entertainment activities.” The court, however, ruled that the meeting with Kirara fell within personal affairs and did not constitute conduct severe enough to destroy the artist’s dignity. Moreover, the evidence Cha presented was deemed insufficient to justify breaking the contract.
In addition to the court’s decision, prosecutors in May 2026 indicted the reporter who spread the prostitution rumors, citing a lack of objective or concrete evidence. The indictment highlighted that the article had claimed Ju had confessed to prostitution after “confirming specific evidence from his agency,” a claim that was also false.
With this ruling, One Hundred Label faces mounting legal challenges. Its CEO, Cha Ga Won, is now under investigation for fraud, adding further scrutiny to the company’s operations. Ju Haknyeon’s victory marks a significant moment in his career, following a turbulent year of controversy and legal battles.
