If you were around for the whole Burning Sun, then of course you know about Jung Joon-Young. Jung Joon-Young, once a beloved South Korean singer and TV personality, became infamous in 2019 after it was revealed he had secretly filmed sexual encounters with women without their consent and shared the videos in private chat groups with other celebrities.
The scandal quickly became linked to the notorious Burning Sun nightclub, which was under investigation for drugs, sexual assault, bribery, and police corruption. Jung’s involvement in these illicit activities, along with several other high-profile figures, shocked fans and the public alike.
He was eventually arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced to prison, marking one of the biggest celebrity scandals in recent K-pop history and igniting national debates about consent, accountability, and corruption in the entertainment industry.
So what’s his connection to the Turkish model Asu Taskiranoglu (full name: Asu Ezgi Taşkıranoğlu)? For years, Asu had been linked to him, and according to the subsequent Facebook post, Asu and Jung Joon Young were actually good friends before the Burning Sun scandal broke out.
If you look closer, you will see a profile seemingly belonging to Asu, where she comments about her friendship.
Haha cunku kendisi benim en iyi arkadasim (Haha, because he’s my best friend)
I dig deeper, and I am convinced this is her legit Facebook account (although it she seems she stopped posting on there).
There were other pictures of the two together looking friendly. Of course, most of these pics have been scrubbed from the internet. I think her original Instagram handle was @aasuutaskiranoglu but even with a deep Google search, I could not find them to link them here.
I couldn’t track down the original link, but there was a photo of Asu in comfy clothes alongside Instagram influencer @imfishdo and Jung Joon-Young, hinting that she was hanging out in the same social circles.
Whether it was just friendship or something more, these glimpses add another layer of intrigue to her international connections.
I put together this post to find who Asu Ezgi Taşkıranoğlu really is and to explore the rumors swirling around her, both online and from my sources.
It’s pretty clear that Asu has erased almost every trace of her connections to Korean celebrities. Not a single ex-friend from Korea seems to follow her Instagram anymore. She’s completely rebranded herself, leaving behind the past and carefully controlling what the public sees of her life today.
Could it because of her past connection to Jung Joon-Young?
Everything I post here is alleged.
Who is Model/Actress Asu Taskiranoglu?
Acting Career
- Asu Ezgi Taşkıranoğlu is credited as an actress, primarily known for her role as Nurten Alev in the Turkish TV series Karadayı, which aired from 2012 to 2015. She appeared in 49 episodes, signifying a recurring character.
- In addition to Karadayı, she appeared (credited as Asu Taşkıranoğlu) in the music video titled K-pop group BTOB’s “Movie” MV in 2017.
- Other biographical directories like iSFDm and Maoyan confirm similar credits but offer limited additional details.
Modeling & Public Persona
There is mention on fan-curated platforms such as Tumblr referring to her as a “Turkish model actress,” indicating she has cultivated a presence in modeling or fashion.
So she’s definitely for makeup artists and a jewelry brand, but I could not find any magazine spreads featuring Asu, nor any other modelling credits.
Media Incident
- A 2019 Turkish media report revealed that she sought and obtained a court-issued restraining order against individuals allegedly harassing her: Melissa Alagöz and Büşra Aslan. The court prevented them from contacting or harassing her via any communication means for a period of one month.
As for the media incident, I tracked down the original article in Turkey (translated below):
Article:
Asu Ezgi Taşkıranoğlu, who became famous with the TV series Karadayı, sought protection from Melissa Alagöz and Büşra Aslan, who insulted her. The court accepted the actress’s request.
Melissa Alagöz, who had previously placed 3rd in the Miss Fashion TV competition held in Cyprus six years ago with models from 33 countries and votes from 63 countries, and actress Asu Ezgi Taşkıranoğlu ended up in court.
According to allegations, Melissa Alagöz insulted and slandered Taşkıranoğlu while hosting her as a guest in her home. First, she used degrading expressions toward Taşkıranoğlu through her mobile phone. Then, she posted insulting and slanderous remarks about the actress on her social media account.
Melissa Alagöz’s friend, Büşra Aslan, also shared insulting messages about Taşkıranoğlu in the same way. Claiming that she was subjected to these insults, Taşkıranoğlu’s lawyer stated:
“Due to the other party’s false, untrue, and slanderous accusations, we request a 6-month restraining order.”
The court ruled that Alagöz and Aslan should refrain for 1 month from making threats, insults, humiliating or degrading remarks or behavior against Asu Ezgi Taşkıranoğlu, and from disturbing her through any means of communication.
The Drama Explained
This was a celebrity feud that spilled into the courts:
- Asu Ezgi Taşkıranoğlu (actress, best known for Karadayı) and Melissa Alagöz (model, Miss Fashion TV contestant) were once on friendly terms. Alagöz even hosted her at her home.
- Things went sour: Alagöz allegedly insulted her in person, by phone, and on social media.
- Alagöz’s friend Büşra Aslan joined in, also posting degrading messages about Asu online.
- Feeling harassed and defamed, Asu filed for legal protection.
- The court sided with her, issuing a restraining order banning Alagöz and Aslan from threatening, insulting, or contacting her for a month.
As an actress, Asu was already no stranger to the celebrity spotlight, with Turkish media frequently gossiping about her personal life.
According to this report, Asu Ezgi Taşkıranoğlu was seen getting cozy with Hakan Sabancı, the middle son of the prominent Arzu-Ömer Sabancı family. The two were chatting within a group of friends at the venue, but as the night progressed, they left together.
The pair reportedly boarded Sabancı’s private boat at Bebek pier, and after their friends joined them, they crossed over to the opposite shore. This appearance came just a few months after Sabancı was seen holding hands with Ayşe Özyılmazel, raising eyebrows among Istanbul’s social circles.
The evening hints at a potential romance or at least a very flirty night out, positioning Taşkıranoğlu once again in the spotlight, not just for her acting, but for her social connections in Istanbul’s elite circles.
Connections in the K-Pop Scene?
Asu Ezgi Taşkıranoğlu reportedly spent some time in South Korea. She appeared as a model in BTOB’s “Movie” music video, which helped her gain recognition in K-pop circles.
Rumors circulating online suggest that she was close to Jung Joon-young, who later became infamous due to the Burning Sun scandal. Some social media chatter claims that Taşkıranoğlu was part of the same elite celebrity circles in Korea and had connections that extended from Korea to China. There were also mentions of fraud as the reason she fled Korea.
She was once allegedly considered untouchable for a time in those circles, and her friendship with high-profile figures like Jung Joon-young sparked intrigue among fans and gossip communities.
Word on the street is Asu was also linked to various K-pop idols on personal level. In fact, a Twitter post suggests that Asu may have been “passed around” by these K-pop idols. (Even I heard these rumors IRL sooooo could it have some credibility? DM me if you want to know the tea!)
While these stories are largely unverified and based on social media reports, they add a layer of international intrigue to her career, linking the Turkish actress-model to a wider, and occasionally controversial, network of K-pop and entertainment personalities.
Anyone from Turkey living Korea who remembers model Asu Taskiranoglu?
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