In a matter of days, three big names in South Korea's entertainment industry have made headlines in separate scandals that could derail their careers.
The allegations that have embroiled comedians Park Na-rae and Cho Sae-ho, as well as veteran actor Cho Jin-woong, are all different - ranging from workplace abuse to previous teenage detention to associations with a gang member.
But the results have been the same: departures from the television screens where they had worked their way up to become household names.
The scandals have also raised questions about the standards to which South Korea's public figures are held - especially in the entertainment industry.
What are the scandals about?
Park Na-rae, one of the country's most successful female comedians, made headlines last week when two of her former managers lodged criminal complaints claiming she had verbally abused and physically assaulted them. The 40-year-old had also made them do her personal chores, they alleged.
Park has denied these allegations and sued the former managers for blackmail, her agency said over the weekend. She is separately being accused of receiving IV drips illegally at home, which violates the local medical law, prompting a police investigation.
On Monday, Park Na-rae announced on social media that she had talked things through with her accusers, but would halt all broadcasting activities until things were clearly resolved.
Another Scandal: Cho Sae-ho
Another comedian who has come under scrutiny over the past week is Cho Sae-ho. Rumours started swirling last week that the 43-year-old was friends with a prominent local gang member and had received money to promote the latter's business.
Backlash came swiftly, as social media users demanded that Cho Sae-ho be removed from the popular variety shows he hosted. On Tuesday, Cho Sae-ho's agency announced that he would leave the shows - though it denied his links to the gang's business activities.
Cho Jin-woong's Retirement
The downfall that has generated the most debate comes from veteran actor Cho Jin-woong, who said over the weekend that he would quit acting following a viral news report alleging he had been sent to a juvenile detention centre on charges of robbery and sexual assault.
The abrupt announcement has broadcasters scrambling to erase him from their platforms, and his fate in the industry remains uncertain.
A Debate Over Cancel Culture
The allegations have stirred heated debate about how much public figures should be forgiven for past mistakes. Critics argue that the cancel culture cycle is absurd, spotlighting the need for society to rethink its online behavior and how celebrities are treated.
