Several K-pop stars, including Hani, HyunA, and Jiyeon, are facing a wave of negative comments online following recent controversies involving their (soon-to-be) husbands.
On the 29th, Hani‘s Instagram was flooded with criticism related to her fiancé, broadcaster and psychiatrist Yang Jae Woong. This backlash followed an SBS report on the 26th about a patient who died at a psychiatric clinic operated by a well-known psychiatrist. The patient, who had been admitted for treatment of addiction to diet pills, was seen on security cameras complaining of stomach pain. Despite her distress, she was restrained by staff and later found to be suffering from a suspected pseudo-obstruction, which led to her death. Many netizens speculated that the hospital involved could be W Clinic, run by Yang Jae Woong and his brother Yang Jae Jin.
The controversy intensified when it was revealed that Hani announced her September wedding to Yang Jae Woong just four days before the medical incident. People argued that this timing showed a lack of respect for the deceased patient. Comments on Hani’s Instagram included, “Hani, do you really have to get married? A person died,” and “If a doctor is busy on TV, it means they’re neglecting their patients.”
Yang Jae Woong, who had remained silent, eventually released a statement through his agency, expressing deep regret over the incident and pledging full cooperation with the investigation. He stated, “We cannot hide our dismay over the incident at W Clinic, and we sincerely apologize to the deceased and their family. We will cooperate fully and sincerely with the ongoing investigation.”
Similarly, T-ara’s Jiyeon faced backlash on her social media after announcing a hiatus from her YouTube channel on June 20th, which many attributed to negative comments following a bench-clearing incident involving her husband, KT Wiz player Hwang Jae Gyun.
The incident occurred during a game against the Hanwha Eagles, when Hwang Jae Gyun had an outburst over a celebratory gesture by Hanwha pitcher Park Sang Won, leading to both teams clearing the benches. This sparked a surge of negative comments directed at Jiyeon, with some netizens telling her to “manage her husband better.” The controversy forced Jiyeon to pause her YouTube activities.
HyunA also faced online hate after confirming her relationship with fellow singer Yong Jun Hyung and announcing their October wedding. Speculation about a potential pregnancy also surfaced after she was seen appearing reserved on stage, which was later proven false.
Back in May, HyunA faced a wave of global backlash after a BBC documentary on the “Burning Sun” scandal, in which her fiancé Yong Jun Hyung was once suspected of being involved. This has since impacted her career, with low concert ticket sales and reports of audience boycotts, where attendees remained unresponsive during her performances.
Cultural critic Kim Heon Shik commented, “It is inappropriate to impose collective responsibility on public figures for their partners’ actions. These stars are not complicit in these incidents, and such hate comments are tantamount to defamation and criminal behavior. In cases like Hani and HyunA, they aren’t even married yet, and this should not be grounds for condemnation. Unfortunately, our country’s internet culture has evolved to enforce collective punishment.”
