Journalist indicted without detention over report alleging former The Boyz member Ju Haknyeon’s prostitution with a Japanese AV actress

A journalist who reported on privacy allegations involving former The Boyz member Ju Haknyeon has been indicted without detention on charges of defamation.

According to legal sources on June 2, the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office, led by Chief Prosecutor Hwang Soo Yeon, indicted journalist Choi Mo on May 12 under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc.

Choi is accused of publishing an article in June last year claiming that Ju Haknyeon had engaged in prostitution with a Japanese adult video (AV) actress-turned-entertainer, and that he later admitted to the allegations after initially denying them.

Following the report, Ju’s agency One Hundred Label announced his departure from the group and the termination of his exclusive contract at the time.

Ju responded by stating that he would hold both the journalist and the media outlet accountable, arguing that he was falsely portrayed as a sex offender without substantiated evidence. He also said he had filed a criminal complaint against the journalist over the report.