Former MADEIN member Ga-eun's mother: "CEO Lee Yong-hak threatened, asking if is okay → Articles suddenly came out about Ga-eun leaving the group"

The mother of Ga-eun, a former member of the group MADEIN, has alleged that she was threatened by Lee Yong-hak, the CEO of 143 Entertainment.

On the 29th, a press conference was held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, regarding allegations of sexual assault by Lee Yong-hak, CEO of 143 Entertainment, against a member of his idol group. Attendees included Ga-eun's mother, attorney Moon Hyo-jung, and former 143 Entertainment A&R team leader Heo Yoo-jung.

Lee Yong-hak, CEO of 143 Entertainment, is embroiled in allegations of sexual misconduct involving a member of the girl group MADEIN. Previously, JTBC's 'Incident Chief' reported that a member of a multinational girl group that debuted last September was sexually assaulted by the agency's CEO.

The victim's mother mentioned the forced molestation incident, stating, "The situation was too harsh, and my child eventually broke down." She added, "Then suddenly, 'Incident Chief' aired. We wanted to end it quietly for her dreams and future, but the broadcast made her tremble with fear. We felt we couldn't delay any longer, so her father met with the agency's CEO."

She continued, "He promised to meet all our conditions, so we negotiated. The CEO asked her to like a statement on Instagram, which she did. But then he also demanded that she post the statement. When we received the content they sent, I cried. The statement was full of lies."

The victim's mother expressed, "Why should we post these lies? Why should the victim act like the perpetrator? I said we couldn't do it. Then Lee Yong-hak's attitude changed. It was daunting. She had dedicated everything to 143 Entertainment from a young age. Now, what should she do? I wanted to provide a foundation for her to pursue what she loves, so I asked for a settlement."

She added, "The CEO flatly refused, saying it would be an admission of guilt. I said I had nothing more to say. Then he left, saying, 'Ga-eun might get hurt, are you okay with that?' and left within 10 minutes. After that, without any contact, articles about Ga-eun leaving MADEIN were published, along with news that her exclusive contract was still valid. Her dreams and life vanished," she said tearfully.

When the sexual assault allegations surfaced last year, 143 Entertainment denied them as "clearly unfounded." The agency later announced Ga-eun's departure from the team. Ga-eun's side filed a complaint with the Gangnam Police Station in April.

Reporter Kim Ji-won, TenAsia one@tenasia.co.kr