The Korean entertainment industry in 2024 has been rocked by scandals and revelations with the attention focused on disputes between companies leading the K-pop industry.
Korean media outlet Joy News 24 marked its 20th anniversary by conducting a survey from Sept. 30 to Oct. 8 about dramas, variety shows, movies, actors and singers that shined in 2024.
The survey was conducted among 200 people in the Korean entertainment industry, including entertainment and broadcasting company employees, movie and broadcasting content producers, and entertainment reporters.
(From left) HYBE's Bang Si-hyuk, Min Hee-jin, trot singer Kim Ho-joong and Lee Sun-kyun (Instagram, HYBE)
The respondents were asked to name the most memorable Korean entertainment issue that cropped up in 2024.
A total of 147 voters, or 73.5 percent, chose the conflict between Korean entertainment company HYBE and former CEO of ADOR Min Hee-jin as the No. 1 entertainment issue of the year.
HYBE is the parent company of ADOR, which manages K-pop group NewJeans. HYBE is also the parent company of several agencies and labels that handle K-pop artists such as BTS, Seventeen, ENHYPEN, Tomorrow X Together, ILLIT and Le Sserafim.
The conflict between HYBE and Min Hee-jin started in April that has led to a legal dispute. Min Hee-jin was ousted as ADOR CEO in August and is currently trying to be reinstated to her former position. Min Hee-jin accused K-pop group ILLIT of copying NewJeans.
Recently, HYBE’s internal monitoring report was leaked and was discussed during an audit in South Korea’s National Assembly. The report’s content disparaged other K-pop artists. HYBE CEO apologized for the report.
Min Hee-jin’s press conference in April after her conflict with HYBE spread was voted as the No. 2 most memorable Korean entertainment issue of the year with 20 votes. The press conference became a meme in South Korea.
Chosen as the third most memorable Korean entertainment issue of the year with 17 votes was trot singer Kim Ho-joong drunk driving and hit-and-run controversy.
In May, Kim Ho-joong was driving when he crashed into a taxi and fled. His manager switched clothes with him and went to the police station to turn himself in, saying he was the one who caused the accident. Kim Ho-joong confessed to the crime 10 days later, Joy News 24 reported.
He is currently detained at the Seoul Detention Center and is on trial for various charges including hit-and-run.
The death of “Parasite” actor Lee Sun-kyun in December last year received 10 votes to emerge as the No. 4 most memorable Korean entertainment issue of the year. Before his death, Lee Sun-kyun was being investigated for drug use.
The shockwave of his death continued in 2024. Supporters of Lee Sun-kyun described the police investigation and media coverage of the allegations against him as “character assassination.” Meanwhile, Lee Sun-kyun’s films were released this year.
Meanwhile, BTS member Suga’s drunk driving incident received five votes while the “love triangle” between Korean stars Han So-hee, Ryu Jun-yeol and Hyeri received four votes, according to Joy News 24.
In addition, some respondents answered the scandal between HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk and influencer Juice Se-yeon, the sudden rise in actor Byeon Woo-seok’s popularity and actor Yoo Ah-in’s arrest as the most memorable Korean entertainment issues of 2024.
The same survey showed Kim Ho-joong, Bang Si-hyuk and Min Hee-in being voted as the worst persons in the Korean entertainment industry in 2024.