From Jessica Jung To Seungri, K-pop Idols Who Were Blacklisted From The Industry
K-pop idols who were officially and unoffically blacklisted from the South Korean Entertainment Industry.
K-pop is currently taking the world by storm. Everyone is aware of top groups like BTS, Blackpink, and many others. However, not everything is glitz and glamour in the Korean entertainment industry. Over the years, several idols have had to confront the darker side of the industry, whether by being blacklisted, both officially and unofficially, or being pushed out of their agencies. These idols were barred from appearing on television, releasing music, or endorsing products after being involved in scandals, disputes, or simply for speaking out against their companies. Here are K-pop idols who are believed to be blacklisted from the industry, along with the reasons why.
Jessica Jung
Jessica Jung was a member of one of the biggest girl groups of the 2010s called Girls’ Generation. In 2014, the singer shocked the world by suddenly announcing her departure from the group. The band’s company, SM Entertainment, said that this was a mutual decision; however, Jessica later revealed that she was removed from the band after launching her fashion line. Following this incident many people believe that Jessica was unofficially blacklisted by SM as she has notably being absent from major Korean broadcast channels.
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Kim Jaejoong
Another idol from SM Entertainment, Kim Jaejoong, was also blacklisted from promoting on Korean broadcast channels after a legal dispute with SM. The K-pop idol was a member of the group TVXQ. Jaejoong, along with two other members, filed a lawsuit against their company in 2009 to terminate their contract due to unfair terms. The members won the lawsuit and formed a new group called JYJ; however, they were banned from promoting in Korea by SM.
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B.I.
In 2019, Hanbin, also known as B.I., was removed from his group IKON after rumours of him allegedly trying to buy drugs surfaced. Following this, the idol went on hiatus. Though not confirmed officially B.I.’s absence from Korean variety shows and other broadcast platforms indicate that the idol has been blacklisted. However, the idol continues to promote internationally and maintain a steady fan base even in Korea.
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Lee Seungri
BIGBANG Seungri’s downfall may be one of the most publicised controversies in K-pop. In 2019, he was involved in the Burning Sun scandal. The scandal involved alleged prostitution mediation and embezzlement of money. The K-pop star was removed from his group and blacklisted from the Korean entertainment industry.
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Also Read: From Kim Soo Hyun To Kim Seon Ho, 5 Shocking Scandals Of K-Drama Actors And K-Pop Idols!
First Published: June 17, 2025 4:54 PM
