OMEGA X’s Hwichan refutes allegations of sexual assault by former label’s CEO

nme.com:

This story contains mention of alleged sexual assault.OMEGA X member Hwichan has refuted allegations of sexual assault against the ex-CEO of his former label, SPIRE Entertainment.On March 19, SPIRE Entertainment held a press conference “to announce that [the label’s] former CEO [Kang Seong-hee] is not a criminal but a victim of sexual harassment,” according to Korea JoongAng Daily.

Notably, members of the boyband had pressed charges against Kang for “threatening, assaulting and exploiting” the group in 2022, an allegation that the ex-CEO denied.Korea JoongAng Daily also reported that the company’s current CEO Hwang Sung-woo – who is also Kang’s husband – and the company’s lawyer were present at the press conference, however Kang herself was absent.

Hwang accused OMEGA X member Hwichan – full name Lee Hwi-chan – of sexually assaulting Kang while the band were still signed to the company.During the conference, Hwang played CCTV footage of the alleged incident and claimed that the situation occured because “[Hwichan] was upset that he had to start his mandatory military service soon” and Kang was trying to comfort him when he “forced himself onto Kang.”“Kang tried to push Lee Hwi-chan away, but he did not let up and kept on touching her,” Hwang told press. “Kang kept on trying to undress her upper body.

She pushed him away and told him off, but Lee forced himself onto her. She felt threatened and calmed him down so as not to provoke him.”Two brief clips of CCTV footage, allegedly depicting the incident, were released without audio during the press conference held by SPIRE Entertainment.