Jaejoong

In January 2024, Jaejoong posted videos of vehicles he identified as "sasaeng taxis" used to follow celebrities and stated that he had experienced this phenomenon for approximately twenty years. He announced that he was gathering evidence and considering legal measures.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Protagonist is the victim

A tax audit carried out in 2020 resulted in approximately 100 million won in additional tax, a matter disclosed in 2023. His agency acknowledged that some income from activities in Japan had been omitted or recorded in a different reporting period and that certain expenses had not been accepted as business expenses.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

On 1 April 2020, Jaejoong posted on Instagram that he had been hospitalised after contracting COVID-19, before clarifying that it was an April Fools' joke intended, according to him, to raise awareness of health risks. The post prompted a strong reaction in Korea and abroad.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Jaejoong, Park Yoo-chun and Kim Jun-su went to court in 2009 seeking suspension of their exclusive contracts with SM Entertainment, criticising in particular their duration and the distribution of revenue. The case led to the formation of JYJ and several years of legal and industry conflict before a settlement in 2012.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In 2012, recordings attributed to Jaejoong were published and presented as showing insults and physical blows directed at sasaeng fans. The case sparked major controversy over how JYJ members responded to obsessive harassment by some fans.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

In April 2006, Kim Jae-joong was stopped while driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.071%. Gangnam police prosecuted him without detention for a traffic law violation and suspended his licence for 100 days.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

In November 2006, the man identified as Jaejoong's biological father initiated proceedings concerning civil registration and parentage, explaining that the adoption had allegedly not been properly formalised and that the situation had created problems including duplicate registration and military service summonses. The proceedings sparked considerable controversy over the artist's family history.