▲ This Yonhap News file image, irrelevant to the article, portrays sexual crimes against the minor. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- A former member of a girl group has filed a complaint against her agency's CEO, accusing him of sexual assault, a media labor rights group said Tuesday.

 

The Hanbit Media Labor Human Rights Center held a press conference in Seoul's Jung District and announced that former girl group member A had filed a police report earlier this month with the Gangnam Police Station, accusing the CEO of 143 Entertainment, surnamed Lee, of violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual Abuse.

 

The center claimed that in October last year, Lee called A into his office, subjected her to verbal abuse and threats over a span of about three hours, and sexually assaulted her during the encounter.

 

The incident reportedly stemmed from Lee reprimanding A and a fellow group member after they met with other individuals, including a man, at their lodging during a concert in Japan. A maintains she met those individuals for the first time that day.

 

As evidence, the center presented a written statement from Lee, dated the day after the alleged incident, in which he apologized for the sexual misconduct and pledged to ensure A would not suffer any disadvantage, promising her priority in contract extensions and other matters.

 

The Hanbit Center asserted that despite the incident, A and Lee continued to have direct contact and that Lee later retracted his earlier admission of wrongdoing.

 

A eventually left the group in November. While 143 Entertainment insists A's exclusive contract remains valid, A has notified the agency of contract termination citing a loss of trust due to the assault.

 

At the press conference, A's mother pleaded emotionally, saying, "My child suffered immensely and crumbled. Each day was like living in hell. I couldn't leave her side for even a moment. The guilt of failing to protect her has destroyed my life."

 

The center called for a swift and thorough investigation and demanded that the agency formally apologize and terminate A's contract.

 

In response, 143 Entertainment issued a statement saying, "We sincerely apologize for the controversy involving the management company’s representative. There are many discrepancies between the claims made by the former member and the facts. As a police investigation is underway, we will cooperate fully and correct any inaccuracies with objective evidence."

 

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]