The career of Joo Hak-nyeon is a story told in two acts, each defined by a trial that tested the limits of his resilience and exposed the brutal mechanics of the modern K-pop industry. He is not merely a singer and dancer but a figure whose professional life encapsulates the inherent volatility and immense pressures placed upon young artists.
His journey is framed by two distinct periods of intense public scrutiny: the first, a manufactured narrative of greed and incompetence crafted for television ratings on a national survival show; the second, a personal incident that spiraled into a high-profile legal and public relations war, pitting him against his own agency.
Biography
Name: Joo Hak-nyeon
Birth Name: Joo Hak-nyeon (주학년)
Birthday: March 9, 1999
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Height: 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Instagram: @ju_haknyeon (formerly private/official depending on activity)
Twitter: N/A
Fun Facts
- His father is from Hong Kong, and his mother is Korean. He was born and raised in Jeju Island and lived in Hong Kong for about a year during his childhood. It is highly likely that he holds dual citizenship in Korea and Hong Kong. Perhaps due to his Hong Kong father’s influence, he is occasionally seen speaking in Cantonese. He also unconsciously uses the Jeju dialect at times, which adds to what makes Joo Hak-nyeon so unique.
- He was once selected as one of three mixed-race models alongside Jeon Somi and Han Hyun-mi for the school uniform brand Skoolooks.
- According to what he shared on V LIVE, he was most grateful to his fellow members of THE BOYZ for staying by his side when his father passed away and for helping carry the coffin.
- His symbol and mascot is a baby pig. Since the early episodes of Produce 101 Season 2, he gained attention for his unique concept. In his self-introduction video, he brought out a pig plushie and sang a mysterious “pig song.” Since then, the baby pig has become his go-to symbol when interacting with fans through handmade pig-shaped Post-its, pig-shaped marshmallows, pig backpacks at concerts, real pigs, and a pig named Kkul-i (or Kku-ri).
- His mother reportedly runs the largest pig farm in Seogwipo City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, raising around 3,000 pigs. A school arrival video uploaded on May 19, 2017, to the Hanlim Arts High School Facebook page also mentioned that she raises chickens for consumption.
- Horseback riding is both his hobby and specialty. He competed twice in the Idol Star Athletics Championships, winning a silver and a gold medal, and is officially registered as an equestrian athlete.
- He was cast on the day he took his practical exam for Anyang Arts High School.
- Even before Produce 101 Season 2 aired, he became a hot topic as the “Sangam Kiss Boy.” Photos taken in Sangam continue to resurface, so it’s impossible to forget.
- He is also referred to as part of “B1F4” along with Park Ji-hoon, Lai Guan-lin, Yoo Seon-ho, and Bae Jin-young.
- He’s sensitive to heat and personally dislikes wearing multiple layers. He often subconsciously takes off his jacket, and his expression in one viral GIF is assumed to be from feeling stuffy in his clothes.
- He has incredibly powerful vocal projection. Even when he casually says a single word, it’s very clear and easy to hear making his reactions on V LIVE especially noticeable.
- In 2020, Joo Haknyeon appeared on Mnet’s TMI NEWS and revealed that his ideal type is Girls’ Generation’s Yoona, calling himself a longtime fan.
Career
The Crucible of Produce 101: A Trial by Fire
Before debuting with THE BOYZ, Joo Hak-nyeon gained early fame as a contestant on Produce 101 Season 2 in 2017. Initially a fan favorite, he became the target of so-called “evil editing,” which portrayed him as selfish and unskilled during team performances. This sparked intense public backlash, cyberbullying, and even threats toward his family. Despite maintaining a strong vote rank, he was ultimately eliminated in the final round, finishing 19th. Many fans believe his negative portrayal stemmed from corporate rivalry, as his agency was affiliated with a competitor of the show’s broadcaster. The experience left a lasting impact on his public image and career.
Debuting with THE BOYZ
Following the tumultuous experience on Produce 101, Joo Hak-nyeon’s career officially began on December 6, 2017, when he debuted as a member of the boy group THE BOYZ under Cre.Ker Entertainment. The group launched with their first mini-album, ‘THE FIRST’, and Hak-nyeon was positioned as a key member, holding the roles of lead dancer, sub-vocalist, and sub-rapper. His pre-debut fame from the survival show gave the group an initial surge of public recognition, a valuable asset for any rookie act.
Over the next several years, THE BOYZ steadily climbed the ranks of the K-pop industry. They built a substantial and dedicated fanbase, known as “THE B,” and achieved significant commercial success with a string of hit songs, including the vibrant summer anthem “Thrill Ride” and the powerful, charismatic tracks “Maverick” and “Lip Gloss”. A pivotal moment in their ascent came in 2020 when they participated in the Mnet competition show Road to Kingdom. Their creative, high-energy performances earned them widespread acclaim and ultimately the winner’s crown, securing them a spot on the subsequent main show, Kingdom: Legendary War, in 2021. Their participation in these shows solidified their reputation as elite performers and elevated them to the top tier of K-pop boy groups.
During this period, the group also experienced internal changes. In October 2019, member Hwall departed from the group due to health issues, establishing a precedent for lineup changes within THE BOYZ. In late 2024, as their initial contracts came to an end, all eleven members of THE BOYZ made a collective decision to move from their original agency, IST Entertainment (the result of a merger involving Cre.Ker), to ONE HUNDRED, a new label co-founded by prominent industry figures MC Mong and Cha Gawon. This transition was presented as a new chapter for the group, a chance to build on their established success under new management.
Acting
His most significant step into a new artistic field was his official acting debut in the 2022 omnibus horror film Urban Myths (also released under the title Seoul Ghost Stories). He starred in the segment titled “Escape Games” as the character Nu Ri, joining a cast that featured numerous other K-pop idols. For his performance, he received the AAA Focus Actor award, a notable recognition of his potential in the acting sphere.
Personal Life
Early Life
Joo Hak-nyeon was born on March 9, 1999, in the scenic city of Seogwipo on Jeju Island, South Korea. This origin would later become a cornerstone of his public identity, earning him the affectionate nickname “Jeju boy”. His background is notable for its mixed heritage; he is half-Korean and half-Chinese, with his father hailing from Hong Kong.
He attended the prestigious Hanlim Art High School, a well-known incubator for aspiring idols and actors. He was scouted by an agent immediately after taking an entrance exam for the theater and film department at Anyang Arts High School, an encounter that set him on the course to becoming a trainee. He would go on to train for a period of two years and one month before his official debut.
Departure Controversy
The “new chapter” for THE BOYZ under the management of ONE HUNDRED took a dark and unexpected turn in mid-2025. A private event in Tokyo snowballed into a major scandal, culminating in Joo Hak-nyeon’s abrupt and contentious removal from the group he had been a part of for over seven years.
| Date | Event | Key Details & Allegations |
| May 30, 2025 | Private Gathering in Tokyo | Joo Hak-nyeon attends a private gathering with alcohol at a bar in Roppongi, Tokyo. Also present is Asuka Kirara, a well-known Japanese influencer and former adult video actress. Photos are taken showing them in close proximity. |
| Early-Mid June 2025 | Tabloid Inquiry | Japanese weekly tabloid Shukan Bunshun contacts ONE HUNDRED with an inquiry regarding Hak-nyeon’s meeting with Asuka Kirara, signaling an impending news story. |
| June 16, 2025 | Hiatus Announcement | ONE HUNDRED announces that Joo Hak-nyeon will take a temporary hiatus from all group activities, citing unspecified “personal reasons.” |
| June 18, 2025 | Contract Termination | ONE HUNDRED announces the termination of Hak-nyeon’s exclusive contract and his permanent departure from THE BOYZ. The agency cites “issues involving Ju Haknyeon’s private life” and states that it is “no longer possible for us to maintain the trust in him as an artist.” Media reports begin to surface with allegations of prostitution. |
| June 19, 2025 | Hak-nyeon’s Denial | Hak-nyeon posts a handwritten letter to his Instagram. He admits to being at the gathering but states it is “completely false that I engaged in any illegal activity, such as the prostitution that is being mentioned in news reports and rumors.” He apologizes for causing shock and concern. |
| June 19, 2025 | Police Report Filed | An anonymous individual files a police report with the Seoul Gangnam Police Station against Hak-nyeon, requesting an investigation into suspected solicitation of prostitution, a crime for South Korean citizens even if committed abroad. |
| June 20, 2025 | Hak-nyeon’s Counter-Allegations | Hak-nyeon releases a lengthy statement accusing ONE HUNDRED of orchestrating his removal. He claims he never agreed to leave the group or terminate his contract, and that the agency demanded ₩200 million KRW (~$145,000 USD) in damages while pressuring him to leave. He vows to take legal action. |
| June 20, 2025 | Agency’s Rebuttal | ONE HUNDRED responds, calling Hak-nyeon’s claims “one-sided” and “false.” They assert the termination was legitimate under his contract’s “dignity clause” (Article 6, Section 3), which allows for termination due to “acts that damage the dignity of the artist.” The agency threatens strong legal action against him. |
The career of Joo Hak-nyeon is a narrative of immense promise shadowed by profound adversity. His journey from the shores of Jeju Island to the global stages of K-pop has been marked by a recurring and punishing cycle of public scrutiny, a relentless struggle for narrative control, and a direct confrontation with the most formidable pressures of the idol system. He rose to fame through a trial by fire on Produce 101, where his image was manipulated for corporate and entertainment purposes, leaving a lasting scar on his public reputation. He then found success and stability for nearly eight years as a core member of THE BOYZ, contributing to their ascent as a top-tier group. Yet, that stability was shattered in 2025 by a controversy that exposed the fragile foundations upon which an idol’s career is built.
