Dark Side Of K-Pop: Former CEO Admits To Sabotaging Careers Of Idols Who Leave

Over the years, some bans have been enacted against celebrities to prevent them from appearing in content. This is sometimes due to their bad behavior, but can also be done out of disapproval of their actions.

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One of the most famous instances of a blacklisting affecting K-Pop idols involves the former members of TVXQ — Kim Jaejoong, Park Yoonchun, and Kim Junsu (also known as Xia Junsu).

In 2009, three former members of TVXQ, Jaejoong, Yoonchun, and Junsu, had their long contracts investigated, ultimately leading to the termination of their contracts after legal battles.

JYJ

Following their redebut as JYJ, the trio, now a duo, promoted in other locations outside of Korea, with it suspected of being due to a blacklisting preventing them from appearing on Korean television until recently.

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Recently, it seems that the blacklisting was confirmed to have happened.

Earlier this month, Lee Soo Man’s documentary, Lee Soo Man: King Of K-Pop, was added to Amazon Prime‘s online catalog.

| Amazon Prime

The documentary explores Lee Soo Man’s career, including his time at SM Entertainment as founder and CEO. During one portion, the lawsuit involving the three former TVXQ members was discussed with Lee Soo Man sharing the company’s side.

After a portion explaining that the company had invested in the group and created their images, Lee Soo Man reveals that this logic led them to going to broadcasters to explain that it wasn’t fair for the three idols to appear.

Many have taken this to be a confession of blacklisting the three former members and expressed anger over this.

The whole Tvxq JYJ part is here. A**hole Lee soo man is spreading liesss. Im so angry 😡 let's cancel amazon prime!!! pic.twitter.com/FVpRUvJs43

— Beauty in Chaos – 김재중 (@JJismyonlyone) May 13, 2025

"we couldn't come to an agreement with the 3membrs so we told the broadcasters we’ve invested more than 5yrs into these artists, to cast these artists without our permission when it’s our concept is not fair" and some bitches still claim that SM blacklisting artists isn’t a thing

— 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐤 ♡ 𝟓/𝟏𝟗 (@narkeanu) May 13, 2025

Lee soo man basically admitted on camera to be behind jaejoong and junsu's blacklist btw

— mavi (@heroticism) May 13, 2025

Former Girls’ Generation’s Jessica hinted at blacklists and more in her first book, which you can read about below.

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Idols Done Dirty