Korean rapper Yang Hong-won (양홍원), who married his long-time girlfriend, model Won Hyun-ju (원현주), on the 18th, has been embroiled in an infidelity scandal just five days after their wedding. An anonymous tipster not only revealed photos and social media accounts of the alleged woman accompanying Yang Hong-won but also exposed call recordings and private messages with the rapper, even directly contacting his wife, Won Hyun-ju. However, the tipster later admitted their motive was for 'money and attention,' adding another layer of controversy to the incident. In response, Yang Hong-won's agency has fully denied the allegations and announced legal action. Despite this, the couple was later discovered to have unfollowed each other on social media, reigniting public attention.
The tipster, identified as 'A,' previously posted on social media stories, claiming, 'The groom who just got married took a woman to a motel,' accusing Yang Hong-won of inappropriate relations with another woman. A not only revealed photos of the alleged woman's face and her social media account but also exposed screenshots of Instagram direct messages (DMs) sent to Won Hyun-ju, attempting to escalate the situation.
In addition, A successively released call recordings with Yang Hong-won and a video of Yang Hong-won taken while he was in Suwon. In the exposed call, when A told Yang Hong-won, 'I need pocket money,' Yang Hong-won allegedly sighed and replied, 'Don't do bad things. Did you come to hyung's wedding?' The release of these recordings further intensified public interest in their actual relationship and the full story.
On the 23rd, A even started an Instagram live broadcast, openly discussing their motive for the exposé, stating bluntly, 'Can loyalty feed you? Can loyalty make you money?' They then challenged, 'If you abandon a little loyalty, your bank account balance will change. Who would stick to loyalty anyway?'
A then said, 'You judge whether it's true or not; if it's not, then so be it. I just want attention and money. Do you know how many followers I gained after this live broadcast? It's worth it.' After saying this, they ended the live stream. Since A personally admitted that the exposé was for money and attention, the credibility of the entire incident has become a subject of debate.
In response to the continuous allegations, Yang Hong-won's agency, AP Alchemy, issued an official statement on the 23rd, stating that they had discussed the situation with their artist and the implicated woman and decided to provide an explanation. The agency emphasized, 'To state the conclusion first, the tipster's claims are not true, and the evidence presented by the tipster is the result of malicious editing.' The company further accused A of attempting to extort money from Yang Hong-won and the woman, and when their demands were not met, they resorted to making false allegations.
The statement indicated that Yang Hong-won and the woman have separately filed lawsuits against the tipster for charges including blackmail, violation of the Stalking Punishment Act, and defamation by spreading false information. The agency also stated that they would take legal action against those who continue to repost related content and spread false information through posts and comments, depending on the circumstances.
Regarding the actual situation on the day the controversy erupted, the agency presented a completely different account from the tipster's. According to the statement, Yang Hong-won met A coincidentally on the day of a performance. After the performance, he was invited to A's residence for drinks. The company stated that during the drinking session, A demanded that Yang Hong-won and the woman go to a motel designated by A and asked them to leave the residence, forcing them to comply.
The agency further explained that Yang Hong-won was heavily intoxicated at the time and went to the motel to find a place to stay overnight; the woman also had nowhere else to go, so she reluctantly accompanied him. In other words, the agency did not deny that Yang Hong-won and the woman went to a motel together but emphasized that their going together was at the tipster's request and due to a lack of accommodation, not an act of infidelity as questioned by the public.
As for what happened after entering the room, the agency stated that Yang Hong-won fell asleep immediately upon entering. The woman later tried to wake him but felt uneasy about potential physical contact during the process, so she sought help from A and then returned home with them. The company emphasized that no intimate acts occurred between Yang Hong-won and the woman.
Furthermore, the agency accused A of demanding money on the grounds that Yang Hong-won and the woman had gone to a motel together. After being rejected, A edited and released their conversations and call records to stir up controversy. Currently, the involved parties have officially filed lawsuits, and the company has also announced that it will take legal action against netizens who continue to spread related false information.
However, even with the agency's clarification and announcement of legal action, Yang Hong-won and Won Hyun-ju's social media activity continues to draw attention. As of the afternoon of the 23rd, the couple was discovered to have unfollowed each other's social media accounts. It is believed that Yang Hong-won first unfollowed his wife's account, and then Won Hyun-ju unfollowed Yang Hong-won.
The couple had just held their wedding on the 18th of this month, and the unfollowing incident occurring in just five days inevitably leads to speculation about its connection to the recent infidelity scandal. However, the true reason for their unfollowing remains unclear, and whether it is related to the controversy cannot yet be confirmed.
Yang Hong-won rose to fame in 2017 after winning the Mnet audition program 'High School Rapper.' He later participated in the 'Show Me the Money' series, gaining popularity in the Korean hip-hop scene. He is known for his unique voice and sharp rapping style. He and Won Hyun-ju began dating in 2017, maintaining a long-term relationship for many years.
In November 2024, the couple welcomed the happy news of their daughter's birth, and they officially held their wedding on the 18th of this month, formally becoming husband and wife. Unexpectedly, an infidelity scandal erupted shortly after their marriage. Yang Hong-won had previously posted a confession to his wife on social media after the wedding, saying, 'Hyun-ju, I love you,' but also wrote, 'I still feel like I walked into the OOO motel in Cheonho-dong,' sparking public discussion.
Now, just five days after the wedding, topics such as the infidelity allegations, the tipster's financial motives, the agency's legal counterattack, and the couple unfollowing each other have successively surfaced, drawing significant attention to this relationship that endured a long courtship and the birth of a daughter before officially tying the knot. Whether the couple will provide further explanations remains a focal point of public interest.
