Korean Model Scandals Vol. 1 - 21 [2021]

Model Kim Min-ji was caught on camera by Dispatch, a Korean tabloid, allegedly going on a secret date with a client.

Several prominent models announced their departure from large agencies, citing reasons such as exploitation, mistreatment, and dissatisfaction with contracts.

This concludes Vol. 1 of our deep dive into Korean model scandals. Stay tuned for future updates and discussions on the K-beauty industry. Korean Model Scandals Vol. 1 - 21

: In one of the most shocking K-entertainment scandals of the decade, model Lee Ji-yeon, along with GLAM member Dahee, attempted to blackmail top actor Lee Byung-hun. After recording him making sexually suggestive jokes, they demanded 5 billion KRW (~$5 million USD) to prevent the video's release. The courts handed Lee Ji-yeon a prison sentence of 1 year and 2 months, marking the end of her modeling career and highlighting the severe legal consequences of digital blackmail in South Korea. The case was widely covered and remains a major reference point for illegal filming and blackmail in the industry.

The South Korean entertainment industry is celebrated globally for its meticulous talent management, high fashion standards, and Hallyu wave cultural exports. However, behind the glossy magazine covers, high-end luxury campaigns, and perfectly curated social media feeds lies a high-pressure ecosystem that has occasionally been rocked by intense controversies. Model Kim Min-ji was caught on camera by

The infamous 2019 Burning Sun scandal served as a watershed moment for the South Korean entertainment industry. While K-pop idols were at the center, the peripheral networks included prominent figures from the Seoul nightlife, DJ, and modeling scenes. Allegations of illicit drug use, corruption, and the exploitation of women shattered the illusion of the glamorous Seoul party scene. For models, being linked to these establishments or the figures behind them often resulted in immediate agency termination and the erasure of campaigns. 2. Substance Abuse and DUIs

The pursuit of body perfection often leads models into the dangerous world of illegal drugs and unlicensed medical procedures. 1 of our deep dive into Korean model scandals

Vol. 12 — The Tabloid: Manufactured Confessions A gossip magazine runs a “tell-all” with a fabricated transcript of a private meeting that never happened. The story claims Min-ji traded favors for jobs; it invents motives from silence. Lawsuits loom but are costly and slow. The truth feels heavy as an anchor; the lie is a sail that keeps moving.