OMEGA X Reveal That They Were Also Sexually Assaulted, And There’s Evidence
Content Warning
Spire Entertainment‘s abuse of OMEGA X scandal has worsened.
The members have suffered not only mental, verbal, and physical abuse but also sexual harassment and assault.
TW/ verbal abuse, assault
tried to translate the new vid that was released by SBS regarding what happened and is currently happening to Omega X. This is not just defending kpop, they are human that don't deserve this kind of mistreatment.💔😭#PROTECTOMEGAX pic.twitter.com/RhGWo55Vh3
— kai🏹💙 #PROTECTOMEGAX (@likebinarystar) November 11, 2022
Recently, SBS’s Kang Kyung Yoon, well known for her coverage of the Burning Sun scandal, outlined some of the abuse and mistreatment OMEGA X faced at the hands of Spire Entertainment’s CEO Kang Seong Hee.
Kang Seong Hee was first exposed by FOR X (fans of OMEGA X) for getting abusive with the members at the Los Angeles concert during their 2022 OMEGA X WORLD TOUR [CONNECT: Don’t give up].
Guys, I was waiting outside for the Uber Eats that I ordered and I saw the company CEO hitting the members. I really didn’t know what to do since my hands were shaking so much. They were being hit right in front of me but I couldn’t do anything.
— @hwi_418
얘들아 우리 밖에서 음식 시킨 거 우버 기다리고 있는데
애들 회사 대표님이 애들 때리는 거 봤어
진짜로 손이 너무 떨려서 어떻게 해야 될지 모르겠어 애들이 눈앞에서 맞고 있는데 아무것도 못해 pic.twitter.com/vJEqNPzx5n— 주먹밥친구 유채ஐ 🆅 (@hwi_418) October 23, 2022
CEO Kang Seong Hee: What have you guys done for me? Did you take care of me when I was having a hard time?
CEO Kang Seong Hee: Stop?
Member: [inaudible]… it was right…
CEO Kang Seong Hee: Who do you think you are? Who do you think you are?
Member: [A member] is going to faint.
CEO Kang Seong Hee: I’ve already fainted before!
*sound of someone falling down*
Member: Oh!
CEO Kang Seong Hee: Get up! Now!
Member: What are you doing?!
*sound of a thud*
*sound of someone crying*
Following the concert, Kang Seong Hee grabbed Jaehan, who has symptoms of panic disorder, by the collar at the hotel lobby and pushed him to the floor. Once the video footage of the abuse was released, Kang Seong Hee attempted to shift the blame onto the members.
SBS News shared a clip of OMEGA X's Jaehan who was seen having a panic attack and the CEO yelled at him: “Stand up. Stop being a K-pop idol if you're always sick like this.”
DANG! These boys deserve better protection from this kind of CEO!pic.twitter.com/qkrYpzp6z0
— BL Update (@BLUPDATE2022) October 24, 2022
Not only was Kang Seong Hee confronted by the local police for causing a disturbance in the hotel halls, knocking on Jaehan and the other members’ hotel rooms throughout the night, but she also received immense criticism for having canceled the members’ flight tickets to return home to Korea.
The members of OMEGA X also claimed that there were previous incidents of Kang Seong Hee’s power trip before the group’s overseas tours. One horrible instance was when they were forced to perform despite being tested positive for COVID-19.
CEO Kang Seong Hee would call me at dawn and talk to me for one to two hours even though it wasn’t time for our practice. She would keep sending KakaoTalk messages, and if we did not reply, she would get furious. The members’ panic disorder symptoms worsened due to this.
— OMEGA X
Chairman Hwang Seong Woo (Hwang): This is an emergency. Get yourselves together.
Hwang: Members, get your act together and act like professionals. You need a group mentality; that is how you should respond.
Member: Okay.
Hwang: This is how you get real experience. Don’t do things on your own. We’re at war now.
Hwang : We are in Chile right now. This is an emergency crisis. No one is going to help out. Good luck.
Hwang: Members Hyuk, Jehyun, Yechan, and Kevin should perform three to four of the 15 songs and then rest backstage. Jaehan will tell the fans that the four are not feeling well and sincerely apologize to the fans. Then the fans will think it’s okay. Or, [the four] can try to perform the slower songs.
Hyuk: I have a fever and body aches again, though. I’ve completely lost my voice, too.
Hwang: Then, Hyuk, say hello to the fans and stay out.
Kang Seong Hee: If you’re feeling sick, take a hot bath.
Starting in mid-September, the members had to pull off a difficult tour schedule, which included 16 cities in 4 countries, such as the United States and Chile. Before their concerts in Chile, four members tested positive for COVID-19, but Spire Entertainment didn’t alert the quarantine authorities.
Kang Seong Hee: Quarantine… We’ll all fail if we quarantine.
Member B: That means we have to deceive them.
Kang Seong Hee: I’m saying no one will test for COVID-19 starting now. So, what’s your issue? Are you sure you sh*ts want to succeed?
Now, SBS News has reported that also, the members were inappropriately touched against their will at both a company-mandated drinking party and at the airport. OMEGA X members testified, “There was physical contact at the meeting that I was called to where they were drinking” and “At the airport, after being intoxicated, she wrapped her arm in mine and hugged me.”
SBS News also shared photos showing inappropriate touching in a video report. The faces are blurred for the protection of the members.
I felt a little skeptical, like ‘Why do I have to go to this extent in order to work?’ I had to waste my training and personal time on going to these meetings where they’d drink.
— OMEGA X Member A
Member A said Spire Entertainment, especially Kang, would threaten him if he brought up these complaints. The following is an excerpt from Kang that she left in a group chat room with Spire Entertainment employees and OMEGA X members. These are pictures of sleeping pills and alcohol, documents, and a suicide note.
[ Kim Tae-yeon / Attorney: Acts that cause fear are legally considered to be a crime of intimidation under the Criminal Act, and an act such as touching the thigh can clearly feel sexually shameful, so it may be a crime of forced molestation. ]
— SBS News
Additionally, Lawyer Noh Jong Eon, the legal representative of OMEGA X, told CBS Nocut News via phone call on November 14th that “the members are worried and afraid…” They have suffered in so many ways.
This situation was a case of severe abuse where the dreams of young men were taken advantage of and used as pawns by superiors who used their powers to assault, threaten, sexually harass them, and more. The members are worried and afraid after suffering a great deal of gaslighting and abuse, and they have many concerns.
— Noh Jong Eon
He also confirmed that the OMEGA X members suffered from sexual harassment. There is also video evidence to prove it.
We have video evidence of [sexual] harassment. Standardly, the majority of sexual harassment cases occur by men with authority or physical power committing crimes against women. This case shows the issue of how a person with authority violated another person’s dignity regardless of gender.
— Noh Jong Eon
Considering netizens recently exposed that Kang had posted a post in which she was publicly crushing on OMEGA X’s maknae Yechan pre-debut while he was underage, this is all incredibly disturbing.
[Blurred Name of OMEGA X Member] got me supporting~!!!
[Blurred Name] ♡
How does he have such a pretty face~
and sing so, so sweetly~You leave this noona so breathless~♡♡♡♡♡
(Or auntie, or ahjumma, or even ma’am… I’ll cry if you pick on me about this)[Blurred Name], let’s debut~!!!
#[Blurred Name of the Survival Show]
#[Blurred Name]
You [Blurred Name] me ♡— Kang Seong Hee
While Spire Entertainment released a statement on November 7 claiming Kang resigned, there is serious doubt whether this is true. Kang is married to Chairman Hwang Seong Woo, so she still holds a connection.
Hello. This is Spire Entertainment. More than anything, we bow our heads in apology to the fans who have treasured the OMEGA X members, as well as the members themselves and their parents, who were hurt by this matter.
We also sincerely apologize for disappointing everyone by letting the unfortunate matter happen, as well as for the inadequate way that the company has been dealing with it up to now.
Spire Entertainment will bear the responsibility for everything regarding this matter. In addition, the CEO that caused the unfortunate incidents on tour has resigned from the company voluntarily.
In the future, the company will not shy away from but take into account all the criticism and advice we have received during this time and do our best to solve matters, making sure such things do not happen again.
In addition, we will do all that is in our power to prevent the members of OMEGA X from experiencing such unfortunate matters again and to create a better environment for them to focus on their activities as an artist as we continue to converse with the members.
Thank you
— Spire Entertainment
OMEGA X will hold a press conference on Wednesday, November 16, discussing Spire Entertainment’s abuse scandal. Read more below.
OMEGA X To Hold A Press Conference And Speak Directly About The Abuse Scandal
