Omega X to file complaints against Spire Entertainment for alleged sexual, physical, and mental abuse after officially terminating their contract with the agency
South Korean boy group Omega X held a press conference to officially announce the termination of its exclusive contract with Spire Entertainment at the Seoul Bar Association’s Human Rights Room in southern Seoul on November 16.
All 11 members of the group — Jaehan, Hwichan, Sebin, Hangyeom, Taedong, Xen, Jehyun, Kevin, Jung-hoon, Hyuk and Yechan — were present at the event dressed in black from head to toe as they were represented by their attorneys Noh Jong-eon and Seo Joo-yeon, reported Inquirer.
Aside from the contract termination, Omega X also said they will take legal actions against the agency for alleged verbal, physical, and sexual abuse throughout their career.
"This isn't just an issue that only Omega X has been through, but it's about every young constituent of our society who is treated unfairly by those in power,” said Attorney No as translated by the online news portal Korea Joong Ang Daily.
“The members are speaking up to make change.”
The complaints are addressed directly to Kang Seong-hee, the wife of the former head of Spire Entertainment Hwang Sung-woo, who was put on the spotlight in October after eyewitnesses reported the incident where Kang hit and verbally abused the members on the streets after the group’s Los Angeles concert.
“The reason that we just endured this kind of treatment was because this felt like our last opportunity in the entertainment industry,” said Jaehan.
“This was not the first debut for any of us, so we didn’t want to risk our careers because of this kind of incident. We thought we had to endure it for our fans, but we reached our breaking point. We want to muster up the courage and speak up for all the people who are being treated unfairly somewhere in our society,” he added.
Also from Korea Joong Ang Daily, the group revealed that CEO Kang used to force the members to drink heavily with her, played with their emotions and mental health that led the members to seek professional help and are currently undergoing psychiatric treatment.
According to Jaehan, Kang would drop statements such as “You better bow down flat to me if you want to keep being Omega X,” “I’m going to kill you,” and “I’m going to kill myself,” if she did not get what she wanted from the group.
“The members became unable to trust themselves. The sexual harassment by Kang shows how power imbalances crushes young people’s dreams. Our legal firm will do our best so that the members can continue being active, and so that this kind of abuse does not happen again,” added Attorney Seo.
Tags: #Kpop, #abuse, #assault