On April 29, the mother of a former member of a group of idol under 143 Entertainment will hold a press conference to denounce charges of sexual assault against Lee Yong-Hak, the CEO of the agency.
Hanbit Media Labor Rights Center (Hanbit Center) announced on April 28 that this press conference would be an opportunity to reveal the whole truth about the incident and to ask for official apology, as well as the permanent revocation of Lee Yong-Hak.
According to the center, the facts date back to October 2024, when Lee Yong-Hak, known as “Digital Master” as a producer, would have summoned an Idol trainee in his office. There he would have submitted it to three hours of verbal abuse, threats and sexual assault, causing a deep humiliation.
The victim, a minor at the time, aged under 19, was protected by the South Korean law on the protection of children and young people against sexual assault.
Initially, Lee Yong-Hak had recognized his actions and promised to resign and keep himself away from the victim. However, he quickly returned to his declaration, denying the incident and launching actions aimed at dirtying the girl’s reputation. In addition, without warning it, 143 Entertainment expelled the young idol from her group, which intensified his suffering.
The Hanbit Center said that the victim and his family have experienced an emotional ordeal since the incident. “Despite his desire to continue his career, the brutal expulsion by 143 Entertainment destroyed his dreams,” said the organization. They also criticized the agency for maintaining an exclusive contract in order to block the victim’s future opportunities while guilty.
The press conference aims to restore the facts, correct the lies and restore the honor of the victim. The Hanbit Center also called on the media not to relay false allegations, as the rumor saying that the victim would have introduced his boyfriend into the agency’s residence. This rumor, unfounded and unrelated to the incident, was propagated without its consent.
They also asked the media not to use images or videos that could exacerbate the situation and cause additional emotional damage to the victim.
This scandal makes questions about the protection of minors in the K-POP industry and the responsibility of agencies in the abuse of power. He also raises questions about how these institutions deal with victims of such situations.
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