K-Pop Trainee Goes Missing Ahead Of Debut, Police Launch Investigation

The group debuted without the trainee.

A K-Pop trainee, A, who was about to debut as an idol, suddenly disappeared, prompting a police investigation.

According to Yonhap News on the 3rd, the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul received a complaint from the agency and imposed a departure ban on Japanese trainee A on charges of fraud.

A was part of a six-member group and had already completed filming a music video and releasing a single, but disappeared in December last year, two months before debut, leaving a note that “the trust relationship has collapsed.” The group debuted later as a five-member unit.

The agency confirmed that A had a dual contract with another agency and filed a complaint, claiming damages amounting to about ₩57.4 million KRW (about $39,000 USD) over four months.

The police are currently tracking A’s whereabouts, believing that he is still in the country.