PremiumEXO's Kris Wu to BIGBANG's Seungri - How these 6 famous K-Pop idols went from stage to prison
Here are six idols who transitioned from performing on stage to serving prison sentences.
Last Updated: 06.27 PM, Feb 25, 2024
After being selected by major agencies and gaining name and fame, some K-pop idols pursue different paths, including acting in films or K-dramas. However, it appears that some have misused their influence for the wrong reasons.
Some idols have abused the power they attained and engaged in shady activities or inflicted harm on others, actions that are unacceptable to fans and the general public. Here are six idols who transitioned from performing on stage to serving prison sentences.
GLAM's Dahee
Dahee was once a member of the girl group called 'GLAM' under BigHit and Source Music which was on its way to the top. However, she was kicked out of the group when GLAM disbanded after she was found guilty and sentenced to prison for blackmailing actor Lee Byung Hun.
EXO's Kris Wu
In 2021, Kris Wu, a former member of 'EXO', was initially detained on allegations of rape, sexual assault, grooming, and soliciting underage girls under false pretences, according to influencer Du Meizu. However, in 2022, he was convicted and sentenced to 11 years and six months for rape, along with an additional one year and ten months for involvement in group licentiousness.
Coed School and SPEED's Cha Joo Hyuk (Kangho)
Amidst allegations of sexual assault, Cha Joo Hyuk (Kangho), a former member of 'Coed School' and 'SPEED', departed the group. He tried his hands in acting but was soon found guilty on several counts of importing/smoking/taking marijuana, ecstasy, and ketamine in Korea and the Netherlands. He was sentenced to one year and six months in jail.
He was arrested once more for drug use just eleven days after being released from prison. In addition, he was charged in 2016 for running a stop sign and hitting three pedestrians.
Drug Restaurant's Jung Joon Young
Considered the 'ring leader' of the illegal sex video chat aspect of the 'Burning Sun Scandal' - Jung Joon Young from the now disbanded group 'Drug Restaurant' was convicted of gang sexual assault and for filming and distributing illegally obtained sex videos. He is currently serving a five-year sentence and is expected to be released in late 2025.
FTISLAND's Choi Jonghoon
Choi Jonghoon was a member of 'FTISLAND' until his association with Jung Joon Young was revealed. He was initially sentenced to five years for his involvement in two separate gang rapes, however, his sentence was later reduced to two years and six months after settling with his victims. He is currently out of jail and has made attempts to restart his career in Japan.
BIGBANG's Seungri
Former 'BIGBANG' member Seungri was actively involved in Jung Joon Young's chat rooms, where illegal sex videos were shared, and participants would rate the women they had sex with. However, while he was investigated for his participation in the chat room, he reportedly only shared one photo he found online.
His charges related to the 'Burning Sun Scandal' included prostitution, prostitution mediation, embezzlement, violating food safety laws, habitual gambling, and violating foreign exchange laws. Initially sentenced to three years, he was released after serving 18 months.