Although it is common for ordinary people to visit bars and clubs, it is considered
a "taboo" for idols, as it can cause problems and affect their image and reputation.
Many entertainment companies have issued "bans" on their idols going to bars to protect their
image.
However, there are still many cases where idols lost their hard-earned reputation due
to actions that did not meet the standards of being a role model.
Taehyun (TXT)
Just recently, in the early morning of April 12th, Taehyun from TXT was unexpectedly caught
up in controversy after a fan posted a video of him having a good time at a bar, engaging
in intimate behavior while hugging two unfamiliar girls and dancing to loud music.
The situation was made more serious when the uploader accused the male idol of neglecting
his fans in favor of partying: "Taehyun, did you have fun playing with the girls at the
bar?
You went there right after the fansign and the next day, when you flew to the US, you
were too tired to even say hello to fans?"
While some fans believe that Taehyun is old enough to enjoy going to bars, others think
he should maintain a good image and a healthy lifestyle, especially since he is a role model
for young people, and given that TXT has a lot of young fans.
So far, HYBE Labels has not made any official statement regarding the incident, but it seems
that Taehyun and TXT's image may be tarnished, and they may lose a number of fans.
In countries like South Korea and other Asian countries, going to bars and clubs is considered
a normal activity.
However, for Kpop idols - individuals who are built up to have a clean, perfect image
from the moment they debut - going to bars can negatively impact their careers.
Fans spend money and have the "right" to be disappointed and turn their backs on an idol
who goes beyond the ethical standards of East Asia or gets involved in social vices.
In fact, for some less famous idols or less stable fandoms, their careers can be ruined
when rumors or images of them going to bars are exposed, which can also affect the entire
group they are performing with.
Jennie (BlackPink)
Currently, Jennie remains a top star in Korea with her stunning beauty and chic demeanor.
However, the female idol seems to have a relatively relaxed lifestyle.
Unfortunately, her way of living did not sit well with the Korean public.
In late 2022, news outlets continuously reported that Jennie was drunk and had intimate actions
with someone of the opposite sex at a club.
In particular, the female idol shocked the public when a video of her dancing at a party
while seemingly drunk was uploaded onto social media.
According to reports, after finishing an event, Jennie attended a party at a bar.
It seems she had a bit too much alcohol as she danced wildly and had intimate interactions
with a male figure.
Though the source of the leaked video is unknown, it had a significant impact on Jennie's image
and left fans confused and worried for a while.
Later on, it was proved that the man Jennie danced with was no other than Simon Porte
Jacquemus, one of her close friends and everybody knows he is in the LGBT community and has
a boyfriend.
Moreover, who ever goes to bars and clubs without drinking and dancing?
Thus, the fact that Jennie was criticized for this incident is completely unfair and
absurd.
V (BTS)
In 2018, T.O.P's (BIGBANG) ex-girlfriend Han Seo Hee revealed that she had met V in a bar
when she was 19 years old.
What caught the attention of netizens the most was that V and Han Seo Hee were the same
age, meaning that both of them had broken the law by going to a bar when they were not
of legal age.
She also revealed that the person who brought V to the bar was model Kim Ki Bum.
Immediately, Han Seo Hee's revelations spread at an astonishing speed.
V appeared in various news outlets and became the focus of criticism.
Despite her frantic explanations and apologies, netizens still strongly criticized and created
a huge controversy.
Later, Kim Ki Bum's representative denied that Kim Ki Bum had taken V to the club.
He only knew Han Seo Hee in the past but had not contacted her since she became famous
on social media.
Based on the explanations of the model, fans believed that Han Seo Hee was only lying to
attract public attention.
Seeing the serious situation, Han Seo Hee called Kookmin Ilbo to explain everything:
"The whole truth is that I just happened to see V, but everything was exaggerated."
She apologized to fans and V for causing unnecessary trouble.
As for V, he was trusted by fans because at the time he was 19 years old, BTS was still
facing many financial difficulties.
Fans believed that V would not have been able to afford to go to expensive places.
Many people also became disgusted when they saw Han Seo Hee constantly causing trouble
and implicating innocent people.
97-liners (JungKook BTS, Cha Eunwoo Astro, Jaehyun NCT, MinGyu Seventeen)
A group of Kpop best friends born in 1997, including Jungkook (BTS), Mingyu (SEVENTEEN),
Jaehyun (NCT), and Cha Eun Woo (ASTRO), were also embroiled in controversy for going to
a bar.
In May 2020, Dispatch "revealed" that the four idols had visited an entertainment venue
in Itaewon during the time South Korea was implementing social distancing measures due
to Covid-19.
The article on Naver received a huge amount of negative reactions.
On the Nate discussion platform, netizens left many comments mocking the gathering of
the group during the pandemic.
On TheQoo, the article on the incident had over 6.4 million views and more than 2,900
comments, mostly criticizing and condemning the actions of the idols.
Among them, Jungkook was mentioned the most because earlier, the ARMY community had repeatedly
affirmed that he was not involved in this incident.
When news of this broke, the four idols received a lot of criticism and backlash, especially
because there were also COVID-19 cases linked to the bars in this bustling district of Seoul.
The Korean government even asked people who had been in that area between April 24th and
May 6th to self-quarantine at home.
However, Cha Eun Woo continued to participate in all the promotion events for ASTRO's comeback,
Jaehyun worked as an MC for the Inkigayo program, and Jungkook and Mingyu, although they didn't
have official schedules, still received negative reactions.
The fact that the idols didn't voluntarily self-quarantine despite the government's recommendations
and their management companies' attempts to cover up the situation angered the South Korean
public.
SNSD
In 2013, despite being known for their clean image, SNSD was caught up in a scandal involving
drinking and going to a bar.
HongKong media posted pictures of the group's leader Taeyeon and member Yoona having fun
at a famous nightclub in the bustling entertainment district of Lan Kwai Fong.
The two members were reportedly at a nightclub in Lan Kwai Fong late at night with Tyler
Kwon.
They left at 2am and when they noticed reporters following them, they hurriedly ran into a
dark alley, with Taeyeon seeming drunk and even falling into a pile of garbage on the
road.
This news has negatively impacted the girls' image, as they lost their previously wholesome
image.
However, Taeyeon spoke up and claimed that it was just a false rumor.
She posted a message on her personal Instagram, saying "What is this?
I didn't cry, hahaha.
I didn't even go to a nightclub or near any trash piles.
You saw me at the airport the night before the concert, right?"
Later, a post on the Pann community pointed out that Jessica and Tyler Kwon's younger
sister were actually the main characters in the photos taken by HongKong paparazzi at
that time.
However, this clarification post was also unverified, and the scandal back then made
fans and the public disappointed with SNSD's image.
In fact, many people even demanded to "leave the fandom" because of the "corruption" of
the two girls.
The aforementioned cases serve as a wake-up call for young idols: have fun, but don't
go overboard.
Eventhough idols are human beings with their own entertainment needs, once they choose
to pursue the career of an idol, they need to protect their image and steer clear of
unnecessary scandals.
This is also how Kpop idols can keep their fans loyal!