Former The Boyz member Ju Haknyeon has unexpectedly resurfaced at the group’s concert, reigniting controversy nearly nine months after his departure over a private life scandal.

On April 26, Ju uploaded a single photo to his personal social media account without any caption. The image showed a wide view of The Boyz’s concert from the audience, with members appearing on a large screen.

Captured from Ju Haknyeon's social media

What might have seemed like a routine concert snapshot quickly drew attention given Ju’s contentious exit from the group. His presence at the venue soon spread across social media platform X, formerly Twitter, and online communities, where photos allegedly showing him seated among fans circulated widely. In those images, he appeared to conceal his identity with a cap and a black mask.

Ju left The Boyz in July last year after being swept up in controversy over a reported private meeting in Tokyo with Asuka Kirara, a former adult video actress. His agency, One Hundred, announced his departure shortly afterward.

At the time, Ju acknowledged attending a drinking gathering but strongly denied any involvement in illegal activities such as prostitution. He also said he had not agreed to terminate his exclusive contract. He later continued to share his position through social media posts, keeping public attention on the dispute.

His apparent attendance at The Boyz’s concert has now divided fans. Some say it is understandable for a former member to be invited, given the group’s long history together. Others say they are disappointed, questioning whether he has maintained private contact with the members despite the controversy.

The Boyz held their three-day solo concert, “INTER-ZECTION,” from April 24 to 26 at KSPO Dome in Seoul’s Olympic Park, one of the city’s largest indoor concert venues.

The group is also currently embroiled in a legal dispute with their agency. Nine members — excluding New — have filed for an injunction to suspend the validity of their exclusive contracts with One Hundred. The Seoul Central District Court accepted the injunction request on April 23.

One Hundred, however, said "the contracts have not been terminated," pushing back against the members’ claims that they had prepared the concert at their own expense.

Source: Korea Times News