10 Issues that Happened in the World of K-Pop Throughout 2019: Legal Cases, Suicides, Idol Dating, and Group Departures

Burning Sun Scandal - First, there is the Burning Sun scandal that involves names like Seungri and Jung Joon Young. It is mentioned that they were involved in a group chat that shared and recorded sexual videos and even acts of rape.

Produce X 101 - The Produce series competition has been a hot topic in 2019. Apart from its latest season, there were rumors about bribery cases. This led to X1 (now disbanded) and IZONE halting all their activities in the entertainment industry.

SuperM Debut - Besides controversies, there were also some happy news in 2019. One of them is the debut of SuperM, a sub-unit of SM Entertainment, in the American market. Their presence was warmly welcomed by fans. They are even referred to as the Avengers of K-Pop.

Idols Leaving Groups - 2019 was felt by fans as the worst year. This is because there were at least 15 idols who decided to leave their groups for various reasons. For example, Woojin left Stray Kids, B.I left iKON, and Wonho left Monsta X.

Idols on Hiatus - Besides leaving their groups, there are also some idols who decided to go on hiatus and take a break. Of course, their reasons are also different. One of them is Mina from TWICE who experienced anxiety and Kang Daniel admitted to suffering from depression.

Sulli and Goo Hara - 2019 was also the year when the K-Pop world lost two talented artists. As known, Sulli died by suicide. Meanwhile, Goo Hara was found lifeless in her residence a few months after Sulli's death.

BTS - Yup, in 2019 there are indeed many shining groups. But the most visible one is BTS. With various achievements such as sales and awards, the BTS name is getting louder. Not to mention that they are now well-known in Hollywood.

Groups in the American Market - Not only BTS, there are many groups expanding their wings in the American market. One of them is BLACKPINK, who also shows their own special achievements. One of them is being the first K-Pop group to perform at the prestigious music event, Coachella.

Idol Dating - Of course, the entertainment world would not be interesting without celebrity love stories. In early 2019, we were presented with news of Kai from EXO and Jennie dating. Several months later, there was the couple Jihyo from TWICE and Kang Daniel appearing in various news media.

Gayo Daejeon Accident - The SBS Gayo Daejeon 2019 award show recently caught attention. There were several accidents involving idols. The most severe one was Wendy falling off the stage during practice. It is mentioned that she suffered a fractured hip and wrist, as well as facial injuries.