Ju Haknyeon denies prostitution allegations after departure from THE BOYZ, agency

K-pop artist Ju Haknyeon has addressed recent allegations and his departure from the group THE BOYZ, pushing back against claims made by his agency, ONE HUNDRED.

The development follows ONE HUNDRED's announcement on Wednesday, June 18, stating his removal from the group and the termination of his exclusive contract with the company.

In a handwritten letter shared on his Instagram story, Ju Haknyeon directly denied the prostitution allegations that were cited as the reason for his separation from the agency and group.

He explained that he attended a private gathering with an acquaintance in the early morning of May 30 where alcohol was served.

While confirming his presence at the event, Haknyeon firmly stated that it is "completely false" that he engaged in any illegal activities, including prostitution, as suggested in some news reports and rumors.

The idol also offered an apology to his fans, acknowledging that the news must have been "greatly shocked" by the situation.

Prior to the contract termination, ONE HUNDRED had issued a statement indicating they suspended Haknyeon's activities with THE BOYZ and conducted an investigation into the allegations.

The agency stated they reached the decision to remove him and end his contract after determining they could no longer maintain trust in him as an artist.

ONE HUNDRED also pledged their commitment to supporting the remaining members of THE BOYZ to ensure they can continue activities in a stable environment and expressed regret for causing concern to fans.

These events follow the agency's earlier announcement on June 16 that Ju Haknyeon would be temporarily halting his activities with the group due to unspecified personal reasons.

Ju Haknyeon first gained public attention as a contestant on the second season of the K-pop survival show *Produce 101* in 2017. He later debuted with THE BOYZ in December 2017, alongside members Sangyeon, Jacob, Younghoon, Hyunjae, Juyeon, Kevin, New, Q, Sunwoo, and Eric. Former member Hwall departed the group in 2019.

THE BOYZ is known for hit songs such as "The Stealer," "REVEAL," "THRILL RIDE," "No Air," and "Salty." Ju Haknyeon also ventured into acting, appearing in the 2022 horror film *Urban Myths*.