ENTERTAINMENT
Poppin Hyun Joon Faces Allegations of Past Assaults Amid Recent Controversy
On October 15, JTBC's 'Incident Manager' reported claims from former and current dancers who allege they were assaulted by Poppin Hyun Joon nearly 20 years ago. One accuser, identified as A, stated, "I was punched and kicked, and my glasses were bent after being slapped. I suffered eardrum damage from a blow to the ear, which impaired my hearing for some time." A claimed the assault occurred at a rest stop after a mistake during a performance due to a last-minute choreography change he was not informed about. Despite attempts by others to intervene, Poppin Hyun Joon allegedly left the scene.
Another accuser, B, claimed that at the age of 17, an assault by Poppin Hyun Joon led to injuries that forced him to quit dancing. "He suddenly approached and hit me in the face with his casted arm," B recounted, adding that he injured his knee in the fall and had to take a break from practice, during which he experienced significant distress.
A third accuser, C, alleged that verbal abuse and physical assaults were frequent over trivial matters, such as bringing hot drinks or dissatisfaction with side dishes. The accusers collectively stated, "At the time, speaking out was difficult as it could end one's career in the industry."
Poppin Hyun Joon has denied all allegations of assault, stating, "I have a severely fractured elbow that still doesn't fully extend, so how could I hit anyone? I do use harsh language, but I'm too small to resort to violence."
Recently, Poppin Hyun Joon stepped down from his position as an adjunct professor in the Practical Dance Department at Baekseok Arts University following controversy over inappropriate language directed at students. He is married to traditional musician Park Ae-ri since 2011, and they have one daughter.
Choi Ji-ye, TenAsia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr
