TRENDING: Kpop Male Idol Rumored To Have Sexually Molested His Former Member Since They Were Trainees
New media reports have stunned kpop fans all around the world as it was revealed that a member of a 6-member kpop boy group has been sent to trial on charges of sexually assaulting and attempting to rape a member of the same group both during their trainee days and even after debut.
The report alleges that although they lived together for a long time from their adolescence, it is pointed out that the K-idol training system is flawed and does not properly protect trainees from external situations. Last month on the 29th, during the sentencing hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, former idol member “A” was sentenced to three years in prison, along with public disclosure of his identity, completion of a sex offender treatment program, and a five-year employment ban.
According to reports from media outlets, A has been accused of touching the body of victim B, another member, at least three times from 2017 to 2021 in various places including the practice room and dormitory. While admitting to most of the charges and expressing remorse, A stated that he does not remember some of the incidents due to being heavily intoxicated at the time.
B reported the incident to the police in Gangnam, Seoul in 2021, and the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office indicted A on charges of sexual assault and attempted rape in January. A has since left the group due to personal reasons. The agency said, “We are currently verifying the facts and will provide a statement later.”
Trainees are vulnerable to violence, sexual abuse, and crimes of power that occur within their agency and group, spending long hours in limited spaces such as dormitories and practice rooms from a young age. In particular, experts point out that agencies are in a legal blind spot, as they are not educational institutions or protective facilities and have no obligation to prevent sexual crimes or protect trainees even if such crimes occur.
Attorney Heo Jung-hyuk, who has been involved in numerous lawsuits related to the entertainment industry, pointed out that “the agency is not obligated to protect trainees, and contracts with underage trainees and idols cannot be viewed from the perspective of labor standards.” He added, “Since trainees live in a group for a long time without outside contact, it is often difficult to deal with problems that arise from within.”
Considering the reputation and contractual status of those involved in the entertainment industry, it is also problematic that victims like B find it difficult to come forward on their own. Attorney Park stated that “the victim has to press charges or a third party has to report the crime before law enforcement can recognize it, but as an aspiring entertainer, it is difficult to bring up the issue first because they fear becoming blacklisted in the industry.”
Source: (A)
