K-pop Group Omega X To Take Legal Action Against Their Ex-CEO For Sexual Harassment & Physical Assault

Last month, a fan of K-pop group OMEGA X took to Twitter claiming that she saw the CEO of SPIRE Entertainment, which manages the group, assault the members after their concert in Los Angeles. 

SPIRE Entertainment subsequently released a statement claiming that the group and the agency have “resolved all their misunderstandings.”

As the saga grew to draw more media attention, SPIRE Entertainment then issued an apology along with the announcement that their CEO, Kang Seong Hee, has resigned from her post. 

Yesterday (Nov 16), the eleven members of OMEGA X held a press conference at the Seoul Bar Association in Seocho to shed more light on the abuse allegations against CEO Kang.

The group’s legal representative also shared they are currently in the midst of a lawsuit to terminate OMEGA X’s contract with SPIRE Entertainment.

According to the legal representative, the group plans to file a criminal complaint on the charges of assault, intimidation, indecent act by compulsion, and attempted threat.

“We have plenty of evidence including photos, videos, and voice recordings," he declared.

The legal team also announced their plans to receive compensation from Chairman Huang, who was the superior of CEO Kang, and would be holding him criminally liable for aiding and abetting CEO Kang's behaviour.

The group's leader Jaehan also shared his personal experience with CEO Kang.

"After practice was over, CEO Kang called me and forced me to drink. She regularly harassed us sexually, including touching our thighs, holding our hands, and touching our faces. In addition to saying things like 'if you want to keep doing OMEGA X you better keep crawling [at my feet'], 'I'm going to kill you', and other more verbally abusive words, she made our members shake in anxiety by threatening us that she would commit suicide."

It was also said that CEO Kang would treat the members as "Dark Knights", and would give them gifts if they helped her drink at gatherings. But if they were to reject her, she'd get angry or glare at them, and would give them a cold shoulder the next day.

Member Sebin also claimed that they were told "there would be no next album if [they] refused to attend drinking sessions.”

Previously, the group decided to keep mum about her abusive behaviour as this was already their second, and probably final, attempt at forming a group.

"The reason we had no choice but to endure and keep quiet was because we were afraid that our last chance [to succeed as artistes] would disappear if we didn't. For the sake of our fans who trusted, supported, and waited for us, we had to endure. As the eldest member and the leader, seeing the members struggling and worn out, I was afraid and worried that our dreams would collapse. I wanted to protect OMEGA X," explained Jaehan. 

However, the group later made a joint decision to end their misery.

"We came to a point where we couldn't keep quiet in nor endure any longer. For anyone else receiving unfair treatments and for those who also have dreams, we decided to muster the courage [to speak up]."

Photos: Soompi