ME:I COCORO LAPONE Allegations 2026: Forced Hiatus and Faked Mental Illness Exposed

Is the idol dream turning into a corporate nightmare? Former ME:I member COCORO has broken her silence, detailing a harrowing account of systemic abuse and professional sabotage by LAPONE Entertainment. What was once a promising permanent group is now at the center of a major ethical scandal.

ME:I COCORO LAPONE Allegations 2026: The BPD Diagnosis Scandal

In a bombshell interview with Shukan Bunshun on January 16, 2026, COCORO revealed that her 2025 hiatus was not a result of poor health, but a forced exit. She alleged that LAPONE falsely claimed she was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Upon seeking a second opinion, her doctors confirmed they had never issued such a diagnosis and that the agency had provided the clinics with false narratives about her behavior to justify the hiatus.

The privacy violations were equally disturbing. COCORO described how management would use spare keys to enter the group's dorm unannounced, searching through fridges and trash to monitor their strict diets. She further claimed she was penalized for acting as a mediator for younger members, enduring grueling 2-hour lectures when she defended them.

Corporate Silence and the Departure of Four Members

The exit of COCORO, RAN, SHIZUKU, and KOKONA—totaling 4 members out of the original 11—raises serious questions about LAPONE's management practices. While the agency has brushed off the report as having "factual inaccuracies," they have failed to provide any substantial defense. As a subsidiary of CJ ENM, the pressure is mounting for the parent company to address these allegations of human rights violations.