From secretly taking inappropriate photos to spreading deepfakes and even scamming idols, these incidents reveal just how badly things can go wrong behind the scenes when K-Pop idol staff cross professional boundaries. Below are 12 alarming examples that prove not every staff member can be trusted.
Table of Contents
1. Staff Selling Private Info to Sasaengs
Some staff members break idols’ trust by selling private information to sasaengs. It’s no secret in the industry that sasaengs often get access to schedules and flight details directly from staff, who sell this information for high prices. Sadly, this happens more often than people might think.
A Quora user named Kasami Yamamoto, claiming to be a former BTS sasaeng, revealed that blacklisting sasaengs is ineffective because insiders within the company are often the ones exchanging information for money.
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2. WayV Staff Rumored to Be Ex-Sasaengs
Unfortunately, WayV fans have often alleged that the staff around the group are notorious for selling their information to stalker fans, with accusations even going as far as to claim that some staff themselves are former sasaengs. This has led many to question how committed the company really is to protecting the members.
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3. Seventeen’s Confirmed Case of Leaked Info
In 2018, Seventeen reportedly faced an incident where their private information was leaked by staff. After a performance, numerous cars followed the group to their home, raising suspicions among fans. Concerned, they reached out to Pledis Entertainment, questioning how sasaengs had even obtained such details.
The company later admitted that a staff member had shared the group’s personal information and schedule on social media. They issued an apology, promised to take disciplinary action, and committed to better training for their employees. They thanked fans for bringing the issue to light and providing proof of the staff member’s actions.
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4. BLACKPINK Lisa’s Manager Scams Her
Sadly, being part of a big or popular group doesn’t protect you from betrayal. BLACKPINK’s Lisa was a victim of her former manager, who scammed her out of $820,000! The manager in question had been with BLACKPINK since 2016 and was someone Lisa trusted and treated like a brother.
He disappeared from the public in October 2019, leaving everyone confused. In early 2020, it came to light that he had asked Lisa for money to look into property investments for her, and she unsuspectingly handed over the funds, which he then used to gamble. Having been betrayed by someone she trusted since her debut, Lisa was reportedly hurt and struggled with fear, anxiety, and betrayal.
YG Entertainment addressed the situation, stating it was resolved after the former manager returned part of the money and provided Lisa with a compensation plan for the rest. Both Lisa and YG decided not to pursue legal action. The manager was obviously fired, but fans were heartbroken that Lisa wanted the whole thing settled quietly, showing just how kind she is.
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5. NCT’s Renjun Disrespected on Livestream
NCT, particularly Renjun, experienced mistreatment from a staff member. SM Entertainment has a reputation for not always treating their artists well, and Renjun faced multiple instances of disrespect. During one livestream with Chenle and Jisung, Renjun started to talk about WinWin, but a staff member interrupted him off-camera, loud enough for fans to hear. That livestream was deleted and reuploaded with the WinWin part cut out.
In another livestream, Renjun excitedly talked about his personal vacation and showed pictures he’d taken. A staff member reportedly barked at him to “shut up,” leaving fans upset and Renjun disappointed.
6. NCT’s Renjun Left in the Rain
One of the most infuriating moments happened after NCT Dream’s Inkigayo performance in 2019. Renjun was seen wandering outside in the pouring rain without an umbrella or manager support. Meanwhile, a manager allegedly entered the group’s van and left Renjun outside.
Some accused the manager of favoritism toward the Korean members, particularly Jeno. Fans organized a boycott against SM, demanding better treatment, but SM remained indifferent. This solidified the perception that the company shows no signs of accountability.
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7. NCT’s Jaemin Denied Fan Gifts
In November 2023, NCT Dream held a fan signing event in Qingdao, China. Fans brought gifts—headbands, crowns, toys, accessories—for the members to wear. Usually, idols put them on happily, but Jaemin never got the chance. A staff member in black took the items away before Jaemin could even touch them.
This incident quickly went viral, with many questioning why Jaemin was singled out. Fans demanded an explanation from the company, but none was given.
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8. IVE’s Yujin Deepfake Post
One of the most recent and shocking cases was that of IVE’s Yujin. On January 9th, a repost appeared on Starship Entertainment’s official Weibo, containing photos of Wonyoung and deepfake images of Yujin kissing a man. The caption read, “Wonyoung good baby, Yujin loves kissing old men.” Fans were beyond horrified.
Starship said the staff member was trying to report the malicious post but accidentally reposted it. However, fans didn’t buy this explanation, pointing out that reporting on Weibo is a multi-step process. Some theorized the employee might have a personal account where they shared similar posts and mixed them up with the official account.
Almost a week later, on January 15th, Starship released an official statement apologizing and confirming the staff member had been removed from related duties. They promised better management of their accounts to avoid future incidents. Fans, however, remain skeptical, demanding deeper accountability.
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9. BTS Manager Threatened Jungkook
BTS has trusted staff now, but in their early years, they dealt with a troubling incident involving a manager who was later fired for mistreating the group. In 2015, a clip surfaced from the “2016 Seasons Greetings DVD,” showing Jungkook flinching as the manager raised his hand as if to hit him. The manager reportedly said, “Get lost while I’m still speaking nicely.”
Another disturbing moment was when Jin gave Jungkook a blanket during a fan meet because he was freezing. The manager allegedly snatched the blanket away, leaving Jungkook smiling awkwardly. BigHit dismissed the manager and introduced new internal regulations. They also pledged to review all online evidence of previous incidents.
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10. Pledis Stylist Making Explicit Remarks
Pledis Entertainment staff faced criticism after reports that a stylist made explicit remarks about TWS’s Dohoon. An audio clip allegedly captured the stylist talking about touching Dohoon’s abs. Screenshots of text messages allegedly showed unsettling comments about Dohoon’s body.
The stylist was also accused of making inappropriate remarks about Seventeen members, joking that they had enough people to form a football team. While there’s no confirmation this person was actually a Pledis stylist, it highlighted how unsettling backstage behavior can be if staff members aren’t properly vetted.
11. Pledis Staff and Seventeen
This incident blurred with the Seventeen leak, but further accusations suggest that inappropriate or unprofessional behavior within Pledis’ staff has been an ongoing issue. Fans remain watchful, especially when it comes to how staffers communicate about or behave around the idols.
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12. Momoland’s Nancy Hidden Camera Incident
In 2019, during the Asia Artist Awards, Momoland’s Nancy was reportedly photographed in secret by a staff member while changing outfits. Fifteen months later, these images were shared in a Discord server with over 500 members before spreading across social media.
MLD Entertainment confirmed Nancy was the victim of a hidden camera, saying she was suffering from a great amount of mental distress. They promised legal action against whoever was responsible. It wasn’t confirmed if the photographer was truly a staff member, but the dressing room access strongly implied it.
Conclusion
These 12 incidents underline a deeply unsettling aspect of the K-Pop industry: sometimes, the very people meant to protect and support idols end up breaching trust in the worst ways. While agencies often promise disciplinary action and better staff training, it’s clear that systemic changes are needed to truly keep idols safe and respected behind the scenes.
