Omega X strikes back at YouTuber, former agency

K-pop

Published: 29 Aug. 2023, 16:33 Updated: 29 Aug. 2023, 16:58

Omega X strikes back at YouTuber, former agency

Boy band Omega X [CELEB CONFIRMED]

Boy band Omega X is fighting back against tampering accusations made by a YouTuber and its former agency Spire Entertainment, reporting the two parties for defamation and sexual violence, respectively.

Spire Entertainment, on the other hand, argues that the boy band's contract is not legally valid and that it will file to reclaim the group.

IPQ Entertainment, the boy band's current agency, said Tuesday that it reported YouTuber Kim Ji-woong, who goes by the nickname K-pop Idol Trainer Injiwoong, to the police for spreading lies and thereby obstructing business for Omega X and IPQ.

The YouTuber has been claiming since Aug. 19 that the boy band conspired with IPQ Entertainment to prematurely end its contract with Spire Entertainment by falsely accusing Spire Entertainment's former CEO Kang Seong-hee of assault and sexual harassment.

Omega X announced in a press conference in November last year that the members had been verbally, physically and sexually assaulted by Kang for over a year since members signed with Spire Entertainment in 2021.

However, YouTuber Kim claimed that Kang was wrongly framed as an abusive boss by the members and that the members intentionally incited her to get her raging on camera. He also said that IPQ Entertainment contacted them prior to the termination of the contract to convince them to join the new agency instead of Spire Entertainment.

IPQ Entertainment denied all allegations and explained that the company only signed the boy band members after they found it difficult to manage themselves without an agency.

A court ruled on Jan. 11 this year that Kang had been violent toward Omega X members beyond the level of discipline and annulled the members' contracts with their former agency. Omega X signed with IPQ Entertainment on May 31.

"Omega X won the injunction trial in January this year," IPQ Entertainment said in a press release. "We stress once again that no illegal measures such as tampering took place in Omega X joining IPQ Entertainment. All 11 members of Omega X have been keeping to the bounds of law to protect their rights amid the damage that had been done to themselves during the verbal and physical violence."

Members of boy band Omega X explain that they had been abused by their then-agency Spire Entertainment's CEO in a press conference held on Nov. 16, 2022. [NEWS1]

Omega X will also report Kang for sexual assault. The suit was not made because all parties involved settled earlier this year not to press any charges against each other for the good of the band, but Spire Entertainment broke that agreement by coming forth with groundless accusations, IPQ Entertainment said.

"We will also be reporting any online posts that spread groundless lies that have been spread by the K-pop Idol Trainer Injiwoong YouTube channel," the agency said. "We will always try our best to protect the rights of our artist Omega X."

The agency and members will hold a press conference detailing the issue and more, the band's attorney Roh Jong-eon said.

Spire Entertainment also brought the agreement to the table, claiming that the agreement renders Omega X's contract with IPQ Entertainment powerless.

Spire Entertainment, Danal Entertainment and members of Omega X — represented by their manager Han Gwang-seok — settled on March 31 that Omega X will be freed from Spire Entertainment.

What the contract does not say, according to Spire Entertainment, is that it will be joining either Danal Entertainment or an affiliate of Danal Entertainment. IPQ Entertainment is an affiliate of Danal Entertainment — which was written in a letter of petition that the company wrote to the court last year to help members file for an injunction against Spire Entertainment — making it likely that IPQ Entertainment intentionally made the members part ways with Spire, the former agency said.

Spire Entertainment also argues that manager Han did not write any formal papers to represent the members, which may make the whole settlement invalid.

"We are currently in the process of canceling our settlement and believe that our contract with the Omega X members still stands," Spire Entertainment said in a press release on Tuesday. "We will also be filing to reclaim Omega X and related intellectual properties [IP]."

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