South Korean singer-songwriter Kim Hyun-ah, more popularly known as HyunA, released wedding pictures with her fiance Yong Jun-hyung on Monday, September 2. The second-generation K-Pop star, most famous for her appearance in PSY's viral 2012 track Gangnam Style, announced her relationship with Jun-hyung in the beginning of 2024. On the other hand, Jun-hyung has constantly grabbed headlines due to his involvement in one of South Korea's biggest controversies, the Burning Sun Scandal. In the mushy photos of what appears to be the couple's pre-wedding shoot, we could see the couple rocking a tuxedo and a short white dress instead of traditional wedding outfits. South Korea Deepfake Porn Scandal: The Real Story Behind the Alleged 200 K-Pop Idols in the ‘Nth Room’ Sex Crime Case.

In a few pictures, we also see HyunA in an all-black ensemble with a mini, while her fiance complements her look in a black leather jacket and torn jeans. In the next set of photos, HyunA looks stunning in a white short skirt and Jun-hyung is seen in a grey suit. The popular Korean page Kpop Charts shared a post on their X (formerly Twitter) handle announcing the wedding news of HyunA and Yong Jun-hyung, which did not receive a warm response from fans. Netizens lashed out at HyunA, expressing their disappointment due to Yong Jun-hyung's controversial past. Fans went on to question HyunA's choice of partner, even comparing him with her ex-boyfriend, DAWN.

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Yon Jun-hyung’s Connection With the Burning Sun Scandal

Yong Jun-hyung is a South Korean singer-songwriter and producer who was a member of the second-generation K-Pop boy band Highlight aka BEAST. After his exit from the group in 2019, Jun-hyung embarked on a solo career. HyunA, on the other hand, was a member of the girl group 4Minute, which came under Cube Entertainment, the same label that managed BEAST. This is when the duo came close to each other. Jun-hyung developed a controversial image due to his involvement in the Burning Sun Scandal, which came to light in 2019.

The controversy started at a Gangnam bar owned by former BIGBANG member Seungri. It was revealed that several illegal activities, including prostitution and the circulation of explicit content involving women, occurred in chat groups that included several popular South Korean celebrities. Names like Seungri, Jun Joon Young, and Lee Jonghyun came out as the main culprits behind the shady activities that took place in the club. Jun-hyung, who was not directly involved in conducting these activities, admitted to having watched the circulated clips shared on the chat groups.  Burning Sun Scandal: Here’s Everything You Need To Know About the Horrifying Incident That Shook South Korea’s Entertainment Industry.

So, why is the backlash this extreme? HyunA's post comes in the wake of the second 'Nth Room' scandal that broke out in August 2024. Several celebrities and commoners, including children, have fallen victim to deepfake porn chat rooms on the social media app Telegram. This has outraged K-Pop fans and the general public alike in South Korea. A recent report in The Wall Street Journal revealed that South Korea is currently facing a concerning rise in sexual offence cases. South Korea Deepfake Porn Scandal: Telegram Apologises to KCSC, Deletes 25 Explicit Videos; K-pop Fans Demand More Action.

HyunA and Yong Jun-hyung will tie the knot on October 11, 2024, in a private ceremony in Seoul, South Korea.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 04, 2024 03:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).