Red Velvet's Irene, Seulgi embroiled in power abuse allegations

K-pop

Published: 22 Oct. 2020, 15:09

Red Velvet's Irene, Seulgi embroiled in power abuse allegations

Irene (right) and Seulgi of Red Velvet [SM C&C]

Singers Irene and Seulgi of girl group Red Velvet became embroiled in gapjil, or power abuse, rumors Thursday, following an Instagram post by a magazine editor.

The editor, also a stylist who is known to have worked in the entertainment industry for 15 years, posted a picture and text on Wednesday saying that she was "completely stampeded upon and bullied by one person."

"I thought I had experienced all kinds of people and gave up on such matters having worked 15 years in this field, but I was wrong," wrote the editor. "The 20 minutes in the unfamiliar room was like hell. No hellos exchanged, shouting in my face with [her] phone in hand pointing [her] fingers while I stood and [she] sat in a chair, blurting out the words.

"Tears flooded out of my eyes after listening to the venomous words spewed out by [her] tongue. I just couldn't help, it just burst out. Why must I be humiliated? For whom? For what? For money?"

The Instagram post revealing the details of a gapjil (power abuse) case posted on Wednesday by a fashion stylist and magazine editor. [ILGAN SPORTS]

Although no clues were given in the story itself, the editor finished the post with hashtags "Psycho" and "Monster," which are the same titles as songs sung by girl group Red Velvet.

"Psycho" was released last year by Red Velvet, while "Monster" was released in July this year by members Irene and Seulgi, who released their music as a duo for the first time this year.

Netizens commented on the editor's past Instagram posts that had complimented the group and the group's songs, questioning whether it really was one of the members. The post was then deleted but the caption was added to a previous post that had mentioned their songs, heightening the suspicion that one of the two stars was the behind the allegations.

Following the speculation, the duo's agency SM Entertainment said it will follow up with an official statement after "things are sorted out."

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]