A Japanese trainee preparing to debut in a K-pop idol group has reportedly gone missing shortly before the group’s scheduled launch, prompting police to launch an investigation into alleged fraud and breach of contract.
According to reports by Yonhap News Agency, the trainee known as “A” was part of a six-member idol group and was just two months away from debut. Music video filming had already been completed, and promotional images and audio had been released prior to the sudden disappearance.
The trainee reportedly went missing in December last year after allegedly telling the agency that trust between both parties had completely broken down. Following the disappearance, the agency was forced to continue promotions with a five-member lineup.
Authorities have since imposed a travel ban on the trainee over suspicions of fraud, while police are treating the case as a potential contractual and financial dispute. Investigators believe the individual may still be in South Korea and are actively working to locate them.
The entertainment company claims it suffered losses of approximately 57.43 million won (around HK$305,000) during the months following the trainee’s disappearance.
The agency also alleged that the trainee may have attempted to switch companies, describing a possible pattern of repeated “walkouts” after securing investment or training opportunities. It further claimed that a similar incident had occurred previously involving another agency before the trainee allegedly returned to Japan.
Police are continuing efforts to trace the individual and determine whether criminal elements are involved in the case, while the entertainment industry is closely watching the developing situation given its proximity to the group’s planned debut.
