VERIVERY's Kangmin & KISS OF LIFE's Julie Embroiled in Privacy Leak Controversy; Agencies Vow Strong Legal Action

VERIVERY member Kangmin and KISS OF LIFE member Julie have been caught in a controversy surrounding an alleged privacy leak.

A video, reportedly filmed inside a bar, has been rapidly circulating on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo and other online communities since around May 29th. The footage shows a man and a woman engaging in intimate conversation and physical contact. The man is seen stroking the woman's hair, and later hugging her from behind as she attempts to leave, sparking speculation online that the individuals are Kangmin and Julie.

Following the rapid spread of the video, both agencies released statements. Julie's agency, S2 Entertainment, stated to OSEN, "This is a matter of personal privacy, and it is not something the company can confirm or respond to." They adopted a cautious stance.

In contrast, Kangmin's agency, Jellyfish Entertainment, issued a strong denial through an official press release. "We have confirmed that baseless rumors targeting our artist are being indiscriminately spread through portal sites, online communities, and social media," they stated. "These rumors are entirely false and are malicious disinformation that severely damages the artist's reputation."

Jellyfish Entertainment emphasized, "With the artist's protection as our top priority, we will pursue legal action without leniency against the creation, distribution, and reproduction of malicious rumors." They further stressed their commitment to "strongly respond to prevent damage caused by false information and protect our artists' rights."

Fans have echoed the agencies' stance, voicing strong demands for severe punishment, stating, "The indiscriminate distribution of private videos is a serious crime." The public sentiment appears to focus more on the invasion of the artists' privacy and the ethical implications rather than the speculative relationship.

Netizens are expressing concern over the spread of unverified information, with comments like "Spreading false information is a crime, they need to be severely punished" and "Invasion of artists' privacy must never happen." Many are supporting the agencies' firm stance in protecting their artists.