From secret dates to industry chaos, here are the K-pop idol scandals that shook the year!

For a long time, the K-pop machine, as we know it, has been heavily criticized for the harsh and rigid control it exerts on artists to maintain the manufactured perfection image. However, K-pop's latest controversy is Cherry. Cherry is a former contestant from Mnet's Boys24, and they have declared themselves a trans woman. This isn't just a personal revelation; it's a defiant middle finger to an industry that thrives on strict gender roles and marketable fantasies.