K-Pop Boy Group Member Sued By Agency For Millions Of Won After One Night Stand

It was part of his private life.

A shocking legal battle between a K-Pop idol and his agency has ended with the court siding with the artist. An unnamed member of a four-member boy group, herein after referred to as “A,” had worked tirelessly for his second chance at debut, especially at the late age of 28. But in January 2023, a private encounter with a woman whom he met through friends turned into a nightmare.

On January 8, 2023, he had been drinking with his friends when he met a woman. They ended up spending the night together. A week later, his agency handed him a debt memorandum demanding that he take full financial responsibility for any losses caused by the so-called scandal. The scope was staggering — all production and promotion costs for the group’s first album, penalties under the contract, and even a clause allowing the agency to demand payment from his family if he couldn’t pay.

Seoul Central District Court | Naver

Desperate to stay in the group, A signed. But just two days later, the agency kicked him out and terminated his contract, then sued him for ₩200 million KRW (about $145,000 USD). The agency argued that A’s consensual encounter was a clear breach of his “duty to maintain dignity” as an idol.

Thankfully, the Seoul Central District Court wasn’t buying it. The judge ruled that since the act wasn’t criminal and never became public through media coverage, it didn’t meet the legal threshold for a contract violation. Simply put, if it wasn’t illegal and didn’t harm public activities, it couldn’t be used to terminate a contract. The court also struck down the “debt memorandum” entirely, calling it an “unfair legal act” under Korean law.

The judge noted A’s vulnerable position — older than most idols, having failed a previous debut, and concluded the agency had exploited his desperation to impose a baseless, crushing financial burden. In the end, the agency’s damages claim was thrown out, and they were ordered to cover all legal costs.