OMEGA X
A former executive of OMEGA X’s management agency has been fined 500,000 KRW (approximately €315) for physically assaulting group member JAEHAN.
Ms. A, a director and the wife of the former CEO of the idol group OMEGA X’s management agency, was found guilty of assault and fined 500,000 KRW. Although she claimed her actions were merely a “reprimand,” the court did not accept her defense.
According to legal sources on July 23, Judge Jang Seong-jin of the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 21 found Ms. A guilty of assault. The court pointed out that “the defendant adamantly denies the charges and shows no sign of remorse.”
The incident occurred around 11 p.m. on October 22, 2022, in front of an elevator at a hotel shortly after the group’s concert in Los Angeles, USA. Ms. A was accused of violently grabbing the hood of JAEHAN’s (28) T-shirt and pulling him to the ground. The motive appears to have been that JAEHAN allegedly failed to properly express gratitude to her after the performance.
During the trial, Ms. A denied the charges. Her defense argued:
“She merely grabbed a piece of his clothing to scold him.”
They further claimed that her actions were legitimate supervision, not assault.
The court rejected this defense. After reviewing video footage, testimony from the victim, other members of the group, staff present at the time, and Ms. A’s previous behavior, the court found her guilty.
The court stated:
“The victim gave clear and consistent testimony to both investigators and in court. According to his account, Ms. A shouted, ‘Is this how you treat me? Were you there for me when I was struggling?’”
It continued:
“Another member tried to intervene, saying JAEHAN was about to collapse, but Ms. A responded, ‘I’ve already collapsed,’ and continued pulling on his clothes.”
During the trial, Ms. A’s defense questioned the physical plausibility of the assault:
“Can a man in his twenties really fall just because a petite woman pulls on him?”
To that, JAEHAN responded:
“I was having trouble breathing and experiencing panic symptoms. I was in a state where I couldn’t stay upright. I didn’t expect to be pulled from behind like that, which is why I fell.”
The court found JAEHAN’s explanation to be reasonable and credible, noting that the videos and witness testimony confirmed the victim’s physical state.
It elaborated:
“In a video filmed by a fan, Ms. A can be seen reaching toward the victim’s upper body, grabbing his hood, and pulling. The victim visibly loses balance and stumbles to the ground.”
Ms. A’s usual behavior was also taken into consideration:
“During the dinner before the incident, Ms. A repeatedly expressed frustration toward JAEHAN, saying things like, ‘You’re nice to the fans, but why aren’t you nice to me?’ and ‘You guys aren’t ready to perform.’ It appears the victim was under significant stress.”
The court also noted that local U.S. police responded to the scene after a witness reported the assault.
Regarding sentencing, the court stated:
“Ms. A vehemently denies the charges and shows no remorse. She has made no effort to seek forgiveness from the victim.”
However, the court also considered:
“The level of violence was relatively minor, and Ms. A has no prior criminal record aside from a previous family protection order.”
This ruling is not yet final. Ms. A has filed an appeal and is seeking a retrial.
In addition, Ms. A is under investigation for sexual misconduct. She is suspected of sexually harassing six members of OMEGA X in places such as vehicles while traveling during overseas tours. Police have concluded that the allegations are credible and have forwarded the case to the prosecution with a recommendation to indict.
As a reminder, in November 2022, the members of OMEGA X held a press conference where they publicly revealed that they had been subjected to physical and verbal abuse, forced drinking, and sexual harassment by their former agency. Although the agency held a counter press conference to refute the claims, the legal battles have thus far favored the members: they won their lawsuit suspending the exclusive contract and have also received a court-ordered compensation.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: SNS OMEGA X
