Attorney-at-Law Noh Jong-eon, press conference on the termination of idol OMEGA X's exclusive contract

— Public disclosure of abuse, assault, and forced indecent assault by the agency's CEO, and legal response

Hello. This is Law Firm Jonjae.

Law Firm Jonjae's Managing Attorney Noh Jong-eon and Attorney Seo Ju-yeon represent the boy group OMEGA X. On November 16, 2022, we held a press conference in the Human Rights Room of the Seoul Bar Association Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul regarding the termination of OMEGA X's exclusive contract, and disclosed the facts of abuse, assault, coercion, threats, attempted extortion, and indecent assault they had suffered from their former agency's CEO.

All members of OMEGA X attended the press conference that day, and many media outlets were present and showed interest.

The ugly reality behind the glamorous K-POP industry

In 2022, Korea's K-POP industry was boasting a global reputation. Behind that dazzling surface, something unimaginable was taking place.

The verbal abuse, assault, threats and extortion, and sexual forced indecent assault suffered by the members. This is not simply a matter between individuals. It was a structural problem that showed how distorted power can violate the dignity of young people with dreams.

At the press conference, leader Jaehan said, "The reason we had no choice but to endure it was because we were afraid that if we did not, our last chance would disappear." A situation in which desperation, dreams, and the love of fans who cared for them were being held hostage. Rather than making rational judgments or giving up on their dreams, it may have been easier to give up their own dignity in order to protect their fellow members' dreams and the fans' love.

Small but great courage, and legal support

As with an enemy outside, it is easier for someone who has exposed wrongdoing from within the industry to be singled out. As the Korean idol industry grew, the role of agencies with an advantage in information and financial power grew larger, and places that distorted that role into unjust power emerged, as in this case.

At this press conference, the OMEGA X members showed courage for aspiring entertainers and entertainers who may be going through hardships somewhere like they did. The youngest member, Yechan, said, "I think this is not something that happened only to us."

Thereafter — the facts of harm recognized by the court

After the press conference, the injunction filed by OMEGA X to suspend the effectiveness of the exclusive contract was granted by the court in January 2023. The court determined that the trust relationship with the agency had collapsed, making it difficult to maintain a normal contractual relationship any longer.

In the exclusive contract dispute that later proceeded before the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board, the former agency CEO's assault, verbal abuse, indecent assault, and threats were recognized, and a final ruling was issued that the exclusive contract had lost its effect and was terminated. A decision was also made ordering the former agency to pay damages to the OMEGA X members. In addition, the complaint filed by the former agency against Attorney Noh Jong-eon was determined to be not guilty and not referred for prosecution.

What Law Firm Jonjae protects

Law Firm Jonjae will sound the alarm against the wrong practices widespread in our society and will not spare legal assistance for young people standing before unjust power. Holding unrepentant perpetrators legally accountable and protecting the rights and dignity of victims. That is the consistent principle Law Firm Jonjae has upheld in entertainment and broadcasting disputes.

We will continue to share news from Law Firm Jonjae.