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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Hallyuwood devider Ju Haknyeon wins $5.4-million lawsuit against former agency CEO

Ju Haknyeon wins $5.4-million lawsuit against former agency CEO

Published Jul 23, 2026 04:47 pm
K-pop artist Ju Haknyeon (left) and One Hundred Label CEO Cha Ga-won (Instagram, screenshot from KBS News' video on YouTube)
K-pop artist Ju Haknyeon (left) and One Hundred Label CEO Cha Ga-won (Instagram, screenshot from KBS News' video on YouTube)
K-pop star Ju Haknyeon has won a major legal battle after a Seoul court dismissed an eight billion won (about $5.4 million) damages lawsuit filed against him by his former agency, ruling that there were no valid grounds for the termination of his exclusive contract.
According to Korean media outlet The Fact, the 28th Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court on July 16 dismissed the lawsuit filed by One Hundred Label CEO Cha Ga-won, stating, "The plaintiffs' claim against the defendant is without merit."
The dispute stemmed from the controversy that led to Ju Haknyeon's expulsion from The Boyz in June last year after reports emerged that he had met and drank with a former Japanese adult film actress while attending an awards ceremony in Japan.
He was also accused of engaging in prostitution, an allegation that was later found to be false.
Following the controversy, Cha Ga-won terminated Ju Haknyeon's exclusive contract, claiming that his actions constituted "an act that damages dignity as a public culture artist to the extent that it causes serious impediment to entertainment activities."
The court, however, ruled in Ju Haknyeon's favor.
It said his meeting with the woman "falls within the realm of private life" and, while it may have been considered inappropriate for an idol group member, "cannot be viewed as a serious act of damaging dignity."
The court also noted that police decided not to refer the prostitution allegation for prosecution, while those who spread the accusation were themselves prosecuted for defamation.
"Considering all of this, there are no substantial grounds to terminate the exclusive contract on the grounds of a breakdown in trust," the court said.
It added that the evidence submitted by Cha Ga-won was insufficient to establish grounds for terminating Ju Haknyeon's exclusive contract.
The ruling is another legal setback for One Hundred Label. Cha Ga-won is currently under police investigation on fraud allegations and is also involved in several lawsuits concerning the termination of artists' contracts.
Earlier this year, the remaining nine members of The Boyz, Sangyeon, Jacob, Younghoon, Hyunjae, Juyeon, Kevin, Q, Sunwoo and Eric, notified One Hundred Label that they were terminating their exclusive contracts, citing unpaid settlements and a breakdown of trust.
In April, the Seoul Central District Court granted the group's injunction suspending the validity of their exclusive contracts with the agency.
K-pop artist Ju Haknyeon (Instagram)
K-pop artist Ju Haknyeon (Instagram)

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The Boyz Cha Ga-won Ju Haknyeon
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