[Contains Eugene's own interview about the case] Fans Seek to Save Violinist From Abuse

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

Fans of electric violinist Eugene Park are waging a campaign to better protect him after reports of abuse, extortion and illegal confinement by his previous agency in Korea emerged last week.

The drive is gaining momentum as video clips and writings on the Internet have showed Park expressionless and much thinner than before.

According to Internet posters, Park has been practically enslaved by his former agency for the last five years and forced to perform at small events it hosted unrelated to classical music. A photo showed a blank-faced Park posing with local residents drinking liquor.

It has been alleged that Park was kidnapped and illegal confined by his former agency. The company also kept all of his fees.

Park is a U.S.-born electric violinist who entered Julliard Pre-College at the age of 8. He entered into the spotlight in the late 1990s in Korea and released three albums from 1997 to 2006.

"Once called a prodigy, his eyes have lost their shine," a netizen nicknamed Chung said. "I can't believe that his talent was abused like that."

The once-promising musician had several interviews to explain his circumstances. He said he had been to the U.S. for several weeks and arrived in Korea Thursday and did not see the video online.

"I did stay in the inn with my managers for more than a year and mostly ate Chinese food like jajangmyeon," he said in an interview with KBS entertainment news program Saturday. He made the comment in response to the rumor that he was confined in an inn in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province.

"I don't care about those matters. I think of my former agents as my friends and I don't want to say bad things about them," he added. "They did hit me and I wish that won't happen any more."

He showed a strong will to continue with his music. "Sometimes I didn't get paid for my music and performance, but still the most important thing for me is music and good performance," he said. "When I plug in the electric violin, it makes me happy. The best thing would be doing a good performances and being paid properly."

Lee Sang-jo, head of Park's current agency Dreamline Entertainment, accompanied Park to the interview and said he is now safe and well.

However, some pointed out that his current agency also exhausted Park by making him perform at small events and that he needs better protection.

Source

Comments

[girl-vsmachine.livejournal.com]

"Lee Sang-jo, head of Park's current agency Dreamline Entertainment, accompanied Park to the interview and said he is now safe and well."

Of course he wouldn't say anything with his manager right there, wtf.

[jorge-callas.livejournal.com]

He's autistic. That's why he sounds so odd.

[beautifiers.livejournal.com]

that makes me so fucking sad :(:(:(

[jorge-callas.livejournal.com]

It's true, people see the weak and want to bully and abuse them because they can, when really they should want to protect them.

[maisoui.livejournal.com]

Oh my God. That makes everything worse.

[rawrcookie.livejournal.com]

*sighs*
That's such a shame.
I hope he gets the help that he need soon. :/

[doraichan.livejournal.com]

"I don't care about those matters. I think of my former agents as my friends and I don't want to say bad things about them," he added. "They did hit me and I wish that won't happen any more."

Awww bb ;____; <333

[ari-meh.livejournal.com]

TT____TT
those managers are such bastards and he still refers to them as friends.
how can they abuse someone with such a kind heart? ♥

[jorge-callas.livejournal.com]

It's heartbreaking.

Well, he's autistic and bipolar so his worldview may be a little different from ours and he may not see with the same logic.

[edgirl-12.livejournal.com]

This is so messed up. But i like that fans are doing this to bring attention to it or else this issue would have easily been ignored.

[pretzel-knot.livejournal.com]

WHAT? someone get him away from those people that he claims are 'friends'.

[anaaga.livejournal.com]

O_o @ ur icon. but it's awesome

who slap who?

[pretzel-knot.livejournal.com]

LOL you mean in my icon? yoochun is slapping junsu. hahaha. thanks, but its not made by me though. (:

[ipartakewithhim.livejournal.com]

I believe they have either...

A)Told him that without them (agency/management) he will not amount to any status of recognition with his talent and go nowhere.

B)Intimidated him so much by this point with the abuse that he's just loss sense of what is right and what is wrong.

C)The abuse probably they've implored has belittled him to the point in case that he believes he deserves what he is getting. And in turn the "agency" has told him something along the lines of...

'You're not worth anything. Nobody else would want to sign you.'

'You're even lucky to be in our agency doing what we do for you and for your violin playing abilities, which aren't even that good.'

I think all can be applied when it comes to this. How is he going to speak honestly without any of those mentions listed above strongly affecting him. The abuse that has been inflicted on him, plus his condition just set a whole new state of mind of disturbance. Also the person who went with him is part of the problem.

[jorge-callas.livejournal.com]

He's autistic. My brother is too. They may act younger than their age or lack normal people's thinking skills. But it is quite clear they have tormented him.

[jorge-callas.livejournal.com]

Ooops sorry. I just read that last part of your comment and see you already know about his condition. Come to think of it I guess autism iusn't the only reason for his bizarre reaction.

[trajectory.livejournal.com]

idk how to feel about this :\

[albeitalways.livejournal.com]

ugh. this is sad. really sad. i can't stand watching someone as talented as him went down the drain like this.
i don't trust his current agency either. although i'm glad netizens did something about his condition and are campaigning for his sake. surely the people who thought they could 'profit' from him sleazily won't attempt to do something like this again now that his case is in the public eye.

[beautifiers.livejournal.com]

FUCK YEAH LET'S GET ON THIS SHI

[anaaga.livejournal.com]

is that a fat pastor holding guns? xD

[izabera.livejournal.com]

unlawful imprisonment, being beaten and having his appearance fees withdrawn T_T

I hope there will be some official inquiry into this and jail time for his former managers.

[baeraki.livejournal.com]

Damn, they have him messed up bad.
I know of his disorder, but he sounds brainwashed/traumatized regardless.
I really don't appreciate how they're taking advantage of him like that, seeing as how his mind might be more pliable than the average person (especially now).

Something's gotta give, this is ridiculous.

[hoyah.livejournal.com]

:/ he seems like a sweetheart - but even if he sees them as friends, that doesn't mean they're doing right by him. i hope he gets the help he needs - they shouldn't be hitting him at all or not paying for his performances. :/ that's just taking advantage of his love for music

[liu-zhoucheng.livejournal.com]

=(
I hope he gets some help.

[polysweet.livejournal.com]

I'm glad the fans are trying to do something, but this entire story is just really, really sad. :( The people controlling him and his career need to diaf. ugh.

[black-silver.livejournal.com]

gah
thank you for this update
this poor soul...i really hope he gets the help he needs
and i'm really glad people on the internet are making a big stink about it and giving him the attention he deserves

[xxsmiiles.livejournal.com]

"Once called a prodigy, his eyes have lost their shine," a netizen nicknamed Chung said.

That really hit me hard ;___; & this truly broke my heart... I hope he gets the help he needs and is not treated like this anymore.

[theweathertoday.livejournal.com]

people are so awful sometimes. ugh.

[finalfantasyo13.livejournal.com]

the way people treat other people is sooo wrong....especially in this case... ;;