IVE An Yu-jin’s Rollercoaster Journey: Deepfake Scandal, Agency’s Apology, and Netflix Comeback

IVE's An Yu-jin Faces Ups and Downs: Controversy and New Beginnings

An Yu-jin of IVE is making headlines for both good and bad reasons. While her career continues to soar, a recent controversy involving her agency has cast a shadow over the group's success.

Deepfake Scandal and Starship Entertainment’s Apology

On January 9, IVE’s official Chinese Weibo account shared a shocking deepfake photo of An Yu-jin, leaving fans outraged and deeply disappointed. The incident, which many deemed inexcusable, prompted an apology from Starship Entertainment on January 15. In a statement released through its official social media accounts, the agency said, “We sincerely apologize to An Yu-jin and her fans for the significant distress caused by the serious negligence of an employee managing our Chinese SNS platforms.”

Starship revealed that the incident stemmed from poor internal oversight. “We have taken strict disciplinary action against the responsible employee and removed them from relevant duties. Moving forward, we will thoroughly restructure our internal management system to prevent such incidents from recurring,” the statement read.

The agency also vowed to take all necessary measures to protect An Yu-jin. “We extend our heartfelt apologies to An Yu-jin and promise to do everything in our power to recover the damages caused. Furthermore, we will continue to take strong legal action against the spread of false information and defamation related to our artists.”

To the fans, Starship expressed regret: “We deeply apologize for the disappointment and concern this incident has caused. We will take this lesson to heart and strive to become a more responsible company that regains your trust.”

An Yu-jin’s Resilience and Upcoming Projects

Despite the controversy, An Yu-jin remains active and focused on her career. She has recently appeared on popular shows like 'You Quiz on the Block' and will join Netflix’s upcoming original variety show, 'Crime Scene Zero', as a regular cast member.

Crime Scene Zero is the latest installment of the acclaimed Crime Scene series, which originally aired on JTBC and TVING. 'Crime Scene' is a popular role-playing detective game where players take on the roles of suspects and detectives to uncover the hidden culprit and drama among them. The new season marks the franchise’s debut on Netflix, creating buzz among global audiences. An Yu-jin, who first joined the series in its previous seasons, was praised for her sharp detective instincts and captivating on-screen presence. She will reunite with cast members like Jang Jin, Park Ji-yoon, Jang Dong-min, and Kim Ji-hoon, heightening anticipation for the show’s release.

IVE’s Comeback and An Yu-jin’s Busy Schedule

Adding to the excitement, IVE pre-released the title track "Rebel Heart" from their upcoming album with a full comeback slated for February 3. An Yu-jin is expected to remain in the spotlight, balancing her music promotions and variety show appearances.