OMEGA X Sexual Assault Controversy: Counterclaims between Members and Former Agency

In the midst of conflict between OMEGA X and their former agency, SPIRE Entertainment, the agency claimed that the perpetrator of the sexual assault incident was OMEGA X’s Hwichan, not former CEO Kang Seonghee, and released CCTV footage.

On March 19th, Hwang Sungwoo, CEO of SPIRE Entertainment, held a press conference on the “OMEGA X Sexual Assault Incident” in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and stated their position regarding the sexual assault. Hwang and former CEO Kang are married.

Hwang claimed, “While former CEO Kang was comforting Hwichan, who was distressed about his impending enlistment, Hwichan suddenly sexually assaulted former CEO Kang.”

Hwang continued, “After finishing work, all the members returned to their dormitory, and members A, B, and C, who were due to enlist, along with myself, were drinking and discussing the issue in the conference room. Member D, who also wanted to drink, joined us.” 

He explained the situation at the time, saying, “Former CEO Kang was working late at the office, preparing for the North America and Japan tours.”

He went on to say, “Former CEO Kang, upon discovering that the members were drinking excessively, cleaned up the drinking session and asked for a discussion, saying that Hwichan had something to say. The content was, ‘I’ve been striving to become an entertainer since the 8th grade. Now that I can finally do something, it’s distressing to have to go to the military. Please help me postpone it.’ Former CEO Kang found a solution and comforted him.”

Hwang claimed, “While comforting him, Hwichan suddenly sexually assaulted former CEO Kang. Former CEO Kang pushed him away and sat him down, but Hwichan didn’t give up and forcibly made physical contact with former CEO Kang.” He continued, “Former CEO Kang resisted, pulled down his clothes, and scolded him. However, Hwichan continued to forcefully assault him, pressing him down with force. Feeling threatened, former CEO Kang calmly handled the situation to avoid further provocation.”

As evidence, he then released CCTV footage containing relevant circumstances.

The video, filmed in July 2022 at the SPIRE Entertainment office, showed a man lifting a woman’s top and touching her body. The audio was not recorded in the CCTV footage.

Hwang emphasized that this video, recently recovered through forensic analysis, was the “video submitted claiming that an OMEGA X member was sexually assaulted by former CEO Kang.”

He said, “As a result of this incident, the 11 members felt that their activities at SPIRE Entertainment were becoming uncertain and started making excuses by recording and illegally filming conversations. Subsequently, former CEO Kang held a false press conference alleging sexual harassment and violence. It should be noted that everything they claim has been processed not as evidence but as media coverage, and all the timings they claim are after this sexual assault incident.”

He continued, “After this incident, there was also an agenda item to report to the police and expel the member (involved) during an executive meeting. However, for the future of the 11 OMEGA X members, it was decided that former CEO Kang would endure it, finish the tour, and naturally cease activities after enlisting.”

He then claimed that the OMEGA X members had counter-sued former CEO Kang for sexual assault following this incident.

Former CEO Kang is currently under prosecution this month for allegedly assaulting an OMEGA X member during their stay in Los Angeles, USA, in October 2022.

In response, Hwang countered, “The prosecution requested additional investigation afterward. Therefore, it has not been determined whether the assault occurred or not.”

After concluding the press conference, Hwang announced that they would file a sexual assault lawsuit against Hwichan.

In response, OMEGA X’s current agency, IPQ, claimed to TENASIA, “The video of Hwichan sexually assaulting former CEO Kang is entirely false,” and countered, “The part in the CCTV footage where Hwichan touches former CEO Kang’s chest is manipulated, and former CEO Kang’s demands for affection from Hwichan were actually coercive acts.”

Meanwhile, OMEGA X members disclosed in October 2022 that they had been verbally and physically abused, as well as sexually harassed by former CEO Kang during their US tour.

After winning the injunction suspending the exclusive contract in a lawsuit filed in January last year, they signed a new exclusive contract with IPQ in July of the same year and have been continuing their activities.

However, in January this year, SPIRE Entertainment raised suspicions of tampering and reported IPQ and Danal Entertainment to the Fair Trade Commission.

Source: insight