Rapper Yang Hong-won hit with drug allegations days after infidelity claims

Rapper Yang Hong-won, 27, who was caught up in infidelity allegations just five days after his wedding ceremony, now faces drug-use claims — allegations that surfaced with no supporting evidence or explanation beyond a single hashtag. Fans have largely adopted a wait-and-see stance, noting that Yang had recently expressed anger over a fellow rapper's marijuana use.

A person identified only as "A" posted on social media Sunday with a hashtag reading "drugs," sharing a map showing the location of a lodging establishment along with what appeared to be interior photos of the premises. The person offered no specific explanation or evidence and did not name anyone as having used drugs.

However, A introduced themselves as "someone who was once a fan of Yang Hong-won and who watched and interacted with him at quite close range, beyond simply cheering from afar" — implying the post was connected to Yang.

"Deciding to speak about this matter was by no means an easy choice for me," A wrote, adding that they had spent a long time weighing whether it was right to disclose what they knew, how much to say, and what consequences the post might bring.

A said thoughts about the potential fallout had not left their mind — including whether going public would destroy a family, whether a child who had done nothing wrong would end up bearing wounds they should never have to carry, and how deeply Yang's spouse, Hyeonju, would be hurt if she came across the post.

"I began to ask myself who my silence would actually serve," A wrote, explaining the decision to come forward. "My reason for speaking publicly is not to unconditionally cast someone as a bad person. I concluded that it was necessary to lay out the specific facts so that the truth and context of the matter could be verified."

Because A has yet to present any concrete evidence or corroborating details, fans have largely reserved judgment and said they will wait to see how the situation develops.

Last month, when it became known that fellow rapper Kim Gamjeon — whose full stage name translates roughly as "Kim Sang-min, He Who Dares Call Himself a Legend," real name Kim Sang-min, 22 — had used marijuana, Yang publicly expressed anger and sorrow on social media.

Kim had been serving a suspended sentence for marijuana use when he was detained on new marijuana charges. In response, Yang wrote: "My little brother Sang-min, you need to get a smack from your hyung, you know that? Your hyung really loves you."

Yang married model Won Hyeon-ju in 2023 and the couple had a daughter the following year, holding a belated wedding ceremony on Oct. 18. Five days later, on Friday, a separate person identified as "B" alleged that Yang had gone to a motel with a woman, sparking the infidelity claims. Yang and the woman said they had been drinking at B's home, that B had asked them to leave, and that they had gone to the motel together while intoxicated simply to find a place to sleep, but that no romantic activity had taken place. B allegedly threatened to expose Yang and the woman unless they paid money.