The public revelation of HyunA and Yong Junhyung’s relationship has sparked intense debates about the public image of idols
The topic of K-Pop idols dating once again captures public attention as HyunA posted a picture holding hands with Yong Junhyung, former member of Beast. After Junhyung confirmed their relationship, intense debates on the impact of publicizing relationships among Korean artists erupted on social media. Many believe that for K-Pop idols, openly dating can have negative effects on their careers and public image.
In 2018, HyunA revealed her relationship with Dawn, a member of PENTAGON. Their relationship faced challenges and controversies, leading to both being kicked out of Cube Entertainment for publicly dating without prior discussion with the company.
The aftermath of this public revelation significantly impacted PENTAGON, causing a visible setback despite earlier expectations for a promising future. Dawn’s departure also dealt a heavy blow to the group, as members acknowledged in 2020 on the show “Road to Kingdom.”
“We went through a member reorganization phase and faced a lot of gossips. We were truly disappointed during that time,” shared PENTAGON members.
Returning to the present, the public once again discusses HyunA’s new relationship with Yong Junhyung, especially considering his controversial involvement in the “Burning Sun scandal” in 2019. At that time, Junhyung’s management admitted his connection to sharing explicit videos and making inappropriate comments about women.
HyunA’s story raises questions about how a celebrity’s romantic relationships influence their careers. According to experts, audiences have become more accepting of idols’ romantic relationships in recent years, though this acceptance is still somewhat more lenient than in the past.
“Until the 1990s – when K-Pop idols first emerged – and extending to the late 2000s, publicly acknowledging relationships was almost taboo,” music expert Jung Min Jae explained. “Even now, fans still find it somewhat distasteful,” he continued, “However, the difference is that many fans now accept idol dating as natural, as long as it does not disrupt their professional activities. They are also more willing to ‘tolerate’ such news.”
However, publicly revealing romantic relationships by idols still tends to cause harm within the K-Pop industry. One reason is that the image of an idol is often meticulously crafted for fans.
“Becoming an idol is a focused profession with a glamorous appearance. It involves creating and ‘selling’ images far from reality, and K-Pop fans are aware of this,” explained the expert. “Fans understand the human aspect of idols, but they don’t want to delve deeper into details like personal habits or complexities in romantic life. Most fans will acknowledge the existence of this aspect, but overall, they don’t want it to become too apparent.”
Many underlying issues may arise after idols publicly disclose their romantic relationships. For instance, if a star publicly dates someone embroiled in moral controversies, fans may perceive it as a challenge.
“When fans know that their beloved idol is in a relationship with someone facing moral issues, even the most loyal fans may consider abandoning ship. This is because dating also reflects a person’s values,” the expert continued.
