5 Times Japanese Media Exposed K-Pop Idols’ Private Lives

“K-Pop” and the South Korean news outlet Dispatch go hand in hand when it comes to breaking news and dating announcements. Japanese media, however, has also been known to spill the tea on what is (supposedly) happening in K-Pop stars’ private lives.

1. LE SSERAFIM’s Kazuha and &TEAM K’s Alleged Relationship

At the beginning of April 2024, Japanese media outlet Shūkan Bunshun released alleged evidence that LE SSERAFIM‘s Kazuha and &TEAM K‘s are secretly dating.

The alleged evidence includes photos of Kazuha entering and exiting a restaurant to dine with an anonymous male idol, later revealed to be K.

On April 3, HYBE released a statement denying that Kazuka and K are dating.

It is not true that they are dating.

— HYBE

Furthermore, netizens from Japan and Korea alike have slammed Shūkan Bunshun’s evidence, or lack thereof, some accusing the outlet of using K-Pop idols for clout.

하이브 쏘스뮤직 지금 당장 주간문춘 고소하시길
이미 두 번이나 당했고 우리가 뭐가 꿇려서 고소를 안 함? 질 자신도 없는데 https://t.co/BbGgxksLHy

— 제빵이 (@beikim0) April 4, 2024

HYBE and Source Music should immediately sue Shūkan Bunshin. This is the second time they (fabricated dating news), so what is holding us back from suing them? I’m confident we won’t lose.

— @beikim0/Twitter

2. LE SSERAFIM Chaewon’s Alleged Relationship with Former Rapper “A”

The same news outlet that reported on Kazuha and K’s alleged relationship once claimed that Chaewon was dating a former rapper. He was referred to as “A” in the report.

On January 18, 2023, Shūkan Bunshun released a picture of the couple as evidence, but there was one tiny problem; the photo wasn’t real.

Fans were quick to point out that the photo was Photoshopped by comparing it to this photo of Chaewon with fellow LE SSERAFIM member Sakura.

주간문춘 김채원 합성 아님?? pic.twitter.com/GxNAliac7V

— 짹 (@0502ha_ha) January 18, 2023

Aren’t the photos edited together?

— @0502ha_ha/Twitter

In response to the dating allegations, “A” stated, “It really isn’t true,” and HYBE stated:

It isn’t true.

— HYBE

In fact, “A” was said to be the person who edited the photos together.

• Rapper A: “It really isn’t true.”
• Netizen: “But they said they were going to release 7 pictures hourly.”
• Rapper A: “Who did? The photo was edited together.”
• Netizen: “I think the article said so. Huh? It’s edited?”
• Rapper A: “Yeah, I’m just a normal fan. It’s Japan, so…”
• Netizen: “That’s crazy. So you’re acknowledging they’re fake?”
• Rapper A: “It’s not like I can contact anyone.”

3. LE SSERAFIM Sakura’s Contract with HYBE

In August of 2021, Japanese media outlet WoW Korea reported that Sakura had officially signed an exclusive contract with HYBE. This turned out to be true. Sakura would debut as a member of LE SSERAFIM in 2022.

Miyawaki Sakura signed a contract with HYBE and will depart from Japan and head to Korea within August.

— Miyawaki Sakura’s representative

4. Former Jewelry Member Cho Min Ah’s Marriage

In April 2020, Japanese media speculated that Cho Min Ah had married her then-boyfriend due to the lovey-dovey captions in two now-deleted Instagram posts. Cho Min Ah did, in fact, marry, but she and her husband divorced in 2023 after two years of marriage.

The most precious person in this world, my man. Soon, he’s going to be Mine Forever for real. Thank you so much for all the genuine support you give us.
.
.
#ForeverOnMySide
#ForeverOnYourSide
#YoursForLife
#YoursNoMatterWhat
#loveu
#forever

— Cho Minah Instagram post

5. BTS Allegedly Boycotting Japan

In a now-deleted tweet from 2019, Share News Japan shared an article in which they claimed BTS was participating in a boycott of Japan.

The article claims that the real reason why BTS wore modern hanbok to the airport going to and from Japan was to protest Japan. Unsurprisingly, Korean netizens slammed the news outlet for making its unsubstantiated claim.