Press conference held regarding sexual assault lawsuit against 143 Entertainment CEO

A press conference concerning the “Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against 143 Entertainment CEO Lee Yong Hak” was held on the morning of April 29th at the Korea Press Center in Seoul.

Present at the event were the mother of former MADEIN member Gaeun, lawyer Moon Hyo Jung, former 143 Entertainment A&R team leader Heo Yoo Jung, Culture Solidarity Secretary-General Kim Jae Sang, Hanbit Media Labor Rights Center Director Kim Young Min, and activist Lee Min Kyung from Moms Politics.

The Hanbit Center stated, “In October of last year, Lee Yong Hak (stage name Digital Masta), founder and CEO-producer of 143 Entertainment, summoned a minor idol group member to his office. Over the course of three hours, he verbally abused and threatened her, and then forcibly molested and sexually harassed her, causing severe humiliation. At the time, the victim was under the age of 19 and was protected under the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth Against Sexual Offenses.”

The organization continued, “Although Lee initially admitted his wrongdoing and promised to step down and maintain a physical separation from the victim, he soon denied the incident, failed to uphold his promise, and defamed the victim with distorted statements. Furthermore, 143 Entertainment dismissed the accusations as baseless and removed the victim from her group without any prior notice.”

The Hanbit Center further stated, “Due to the actions and words of Lee Yong Hak, who shifted the blame onto the victim, the victim and her parents have endured tremendous suffering over the past six months. Despite the victim’s desire to continue her activities, her career was forcibly ended by 143 Entertainment’s unilateral decision to expel her. The agency’s unreasonable and unfair actions caused significant harm to the victim, making it impossible to maintain the exclusive contract, yet 143 Entertainment is now attempting to claim that the fault lies with the victim.”

SEE ALSO: Former MADEIN member Gaeun breaks silence on alleged harassment by 143 Entertainment CEO