Once a fan-favorite from Produce 101, Kyulkyung (Zhou Jieqiong) now finds herself facing a major fall from grace. From her explosive debut to a career full of highs and lows, she’s now caught in a mess of dating rumors, lawsuits, and a fake luxury scandal.
Born in Zhejiang, China in 1998, Kyulkyung joined Pledis Entertainment as a trainee and first popped up on fans’ radar through SEVENTEEN TV in 2013. But it was Produce 101 in 2016 that really launched her. She not only landed 6th place but was also voted by other trainees as having the “best visuals.”
She went on to debut in I.O.I, one of K-pop’s biggest project girl groups, and absolutely shined in hits like “Dream Girls” and “Whatta Man (Good Man).” Her stage presence, visuals, and variety skills quickly made her stand out.
After I.O.I disbanded, Kyulkyung re-debuted with Pristin, who kicked off strong with their debut song “Wee Woo.” They were even seen as a “potential competitor to TWICE” thanks to their visuals and energy. She also joined the sub-unit Pristin V and tried going solo in China with “Why”, but none of her solo stuff really stuck with fans. Later tracks like “Should I Go” and “Little Star” didn’t do much either.
In 2019, Pristin suddenly disbanded, cutting short her rise in K-pop. That same year, things took a sharp turn—Kyulkyung unilaterally ended her contracts with both Pledis Entertainment and XCSS Entertainment, leading to major legal battles. Netizens slammed her for being “ungrateful” and ditching the agencies that helped her debut. The lawsuits dragged on into late 2020 and really hurt her image in Korea.
She tried shifting to acting with Chinese dramas like Miss Truth and Legend of Fei, but reviews weren’t great. People said her acting “lacked depth,” and she even caught flak for alleged behind-the-scenes drama with veteran actress Zhao Liying, which sparked fan boycotts.
On top of that, she was rumored to be dating celebs like Wang Sicong, Lay Zhang, and Cai Xukun. None of it was confirmed, but her “inappropriate reactions” and the constant gossip kept her in the spotlight—for all the wrong reasons.
Things got worse in 2022 when she posted pics showing off luxury bags… that were later exposed as fakes. Social media exploded. She was accused of being “unauthentic” and trying too hard to impress, which wrecked her image in fashion and lifestyle circles.
Even her appearances on variety shows didn’t go smoothly. Viewers called her blunt attitude “low emotional intelligence” and said she was “disrespectful” to co-stars, which just pushed fans even further away.
In 2024, she got some attention for her supporting role in Splendid Song Dynasty, but it wasn’t the comeback she probably hoped for. Now, as of 2025, Kyulkyung’s career is more or less stuck. She’s seen as a C-list celeb and mainly does minor roles in niche dramas.
It’s honestly wild to think that someone once considered a “top visual tier” idol is now barely making headlines. Her story’s a big reminder that talent alone doesn’t guarantee success—and that controversies, poor management, and timing can derail even the brightest stars.
Can Kyulkyung ever make a real comeback? Maybe. But for now, her journey reads more like a cautionary tale than a redemption arc.
