5tion Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Former Agency CEO

[suxaholic.livejournal.com]

Four-member male group 5tion has filed a lawsuit against the CEO of their former Japanese agency, claiming sexual harassment and dissemination of pornographic material.

The group spoke up about their situation on November 10 through an official statement, revealing that the legal process began on November 2 when they filed a lawsuit at Gangnam Police Station. The members are also filing a civil lawsuit against the former CEO, “Mrs. Hong,” for nonpayment of wages (more than 100 million won) over the past two years.

According to 5tion’s representatives, the members were psychologically and physically abused by their former CEO after signing an exclusive two-year contract with Japanese company Yewon Entertainment in 2013. 5tion’s side also claims that the former CEO forced them to work, as well as consistently sent them unwanted pornographic content, such as explicit videos, photos, and messages, through an instant messaging app.

As a consequence of the continuous abuse and sexual harassment, the members have experienced drastic hair loss, gastritis, and insomnia, among other physical and mental pain.

The CEO had also abused her authority to touch the members without their consent, tell them dirty jokes, and to pay late-night visits to the members’ dorm to drink alcohol with them.

But the members of 5tion had no choice but to endure such disturbing behavior, their side claims. When the members had six months left on their contracts, they were pressured to sign contract extension while being told that otherwise they would not be financially compensated for their work. Additionally, the CEO threatened to sue them for breach of contract and block all of their future activities in Japan, if they were to not show up for scheduled concerts.

The members are also hoping to acquire legal rights to their music, as stipulated in the contract, and resolve issues related to copyright infringement through the lawsuit.

source soompi, newsway

Comments

[seroquels.livejournal.com]

omg D: HOW in 2015 do ppl still think it's okay for them to abuse their power like this? Just absolutely disgusting.

[xkat-attackx.livejournal.com]

I'm not familiar with this group, but omg this is messed up. I hope they win their lawsuit and get the necessary help they need to deal with the trauma they faced. So disgusting and I wouldn't be surprised if this is something common in the industry. People out there to take advantage of young people, it's sickening.

[iznanassi.livejournal.com]

This is so disgusting and I'm so happy they're doing this. Way too many individuals and agencies get away with this shit as it just remains a faceless evil. And that just creates more victims in the long run.

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

Please i hope they win.

[iznanassi.livejournal.com]

i'm guessing Oh-tion

[sayuridoll.livejournal.com]

Wikipedia says it's supposed to be Ocean.

[tree-star123.livejournal.com]

wtf the ceo is a monster.

[sra-interesante.livejournal.com]

eeww! ... what a creepy guy

hopefully this was a super small company, one group sufering those abuses is too much already
and they're doing right! they're saving future trainees from that ceo

[smyers92.livejournal.com]

I think the ceo was a woman. so creepy woman

[slowitdownbaby.livejournal.com]

This is horrible :(
I was just reading about the Johnny Kitagawa case the other day...

[smyers92.livejournal.com]

I hope people don't try and say they couldn't be sexually abused by their ceo because she's a woman. (I'm sorry. I'm not sure how to word this correctly)

[adenar.livejournal.com]

You worded it just fine <3

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

That's really awful. I know it must have been hard for them to go through with this. I hope they also get the rights to their music like they're asking for.

[sayuridoll.livejournal.com]

Awful. Why are people so vile?
I hope they win.

[atopworld.livejournal.com]

This is terrible. I shouldn't have to HOPE for them to win, as they just should. People abuse their power and it's unfair. These kids come in with a pure mentality to dedicate themselves to the idol life, just to get a tiny bit of a toe in the door, and they're taken advantage of.

Aside: I thought this was half of Up10Tion filing the suit, so I was very confused for a second.

[ckino (from livejournal.com)]

This is awful omg.
One of my student (he's 20 years old) face the same problem with his supervisor at his part time work place. She keep making advances at him and touching him unnecessarily. She keep texting him late at night and the message gradually becoming more sexual. He was too afraid to refuse her since the pay was good & he's in need of money. To make it even more awful, this person is aware of his financial situation and its obvious that she's using that situation as leverage to harass him :/

[modestgoddess79.livejournal.com]

this is horrible, abusers sure know how to manipulate their victims

[boxcuttergirl.livejournal.com]

that ceo is fucking vile

i really really hope this doesn't get swept under the rug like it did with ze:a and mr.mr

[dio-elaclaire.livejournal.com]

that's really sad and scary :(

[modestgoddess79.livejournal.com]

I hope justice is served, for every sexual harassment situation we learn about I wonder how many abuse victims will never get to tell their story, and it is rare for victims to get justice even for the cases that make the news