Once celebrated as a top-tier K-pop idol and a promising actor, SHINee’s Onew now faces a career shadowed by scandal and missed opportunities.
Back in the golden days of K-pop’s 2nd generation, Onew stood tall among the elite. As the leader of SM boy group SHINee, he wasn’t just known for his unique vocal tone, but also made waves with his acting debut. His breakout supporting role in the 2016 hit drama “Descendants of the Sun” won over audiences with his portrayal of a lovable and clumsy yet warm-hearted character, to the point fans and critics alike anticipated a bright future in acting for the idol at the time.
However, that dream was shattered almost overnight in August 2017. Just as he was poised to make his first lead role comeback in “Age of Youth 2”, Onew was accused of sexually harassing a woman in her 20s at a nightclub in Gangnam, with the victim claiming that Onew groped her multiple times while she was dancing. Onew’s agency responded by saying he was severely intoxicated and had no recollection of the incident. Although the victim later withdrew her complaint, the damage to Onew’s public image cannot be recovered.
In particular, despite having finished a fair share of scenes, Onew was completely removed from the cast of “Age of Youth 2”, marking the start of an extended hiatus from acting. 7 years have passed, and Onew has not appeared in any film or television project ever since. Despite facing Onew himself facing no legal consequences, South Korea’s entertainment industry and the public, known for their unforgiving standards, effectively closed the door on his acting career.
Additionally, the scandal seems to have robbed Onew of his former glow, despite his continued career as a solo artist and SHINee member. His alarmingly underweight imagie specifically worries fans.
From A-list idol and rising actor to a name directors no longer call, Onew’s story is one of untapped potential derailed by one scandal.
