ANN/THE KOREA HERALD – SM Entertainment has vehemently denied allegations circulating online that its artists were involved in purchasing sex and drug use at an adult entertainment venue in Japan.
In a statement posted on its Kwangya 119 website, established for addressing artist defamation and fake news, SM Entertainment addressed the rumours surrounding Johnny and Haechan of NCT. The agency labelled the allegations as baseless and criminal acts that severely tarnish the reputation of its artists.
Additionally, SM Entertainment highlighted the circulation of unfounded and malicious rumours concerning other NCT members and Kim Hee-chul of Super Junior.
The agency issued a stern warning of taking robust legal action against those perpetuating such rumours, stressing that evidence has been gathered, and perpetrators will face legal consequences without leniency, irrespective of nationality.
The rumours originated from a Japanese netizen’s claims that Kim Hee-chul visited an adult entertainment establishment in Japan accompanied by younger SM artists. However, Kim Hee-chul promptly refuted these rumours on Bubble, a fan communication platform, reassuring fans by stating that he has never socialised with younger SM artists outside the agency and does not have their contact information.
Amidst the scandal, SM Entertainment’s shares experienced a significant decline, dropping by 8.18 per cent from the previous session’s close to KRW81,900 (USD60.00) on Tuesday.
