Police clear Hwasa of public indecency charges for performance in May

K-pop

Published: 04 Oct. 2023, 15:54

Police clear Hwasa of public indecency charges for performance in May

Girl group Mamamo member Hwasa attend a breast cancer awareness campaign event at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Oct. 28, 2022. [NEWS1]

K-pop star Hwasa's May performance does not constitute public indecency, the police said Wednesday.

The 28-year-old member of girl group Mamamoo has been under police investigation after being sued in June by a parents' organization for "portraying a perverted sexual act" mid-performance at a university festival in May.

"After comprehensively reviewing the case and questioning both parties, [the police decided not to pursue] criminal charges against Hwasa," the Seongdong Police Precinct in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, said in a statement.

The Student Parents Human Rights Protection Solidarity had criticized Hwasa's live performance of her 2018 song "Don't Give" at the Sungkyunkwan University festival on May 12, where mid-song, the artist was seen brushing up her private parts in a leg wide-open posture.

Saying that the move "constitutes public indecency under the Criminal Act," the group sued Hwasa, and the artist has been undergoing police questioning until recently.

Hwasa's concept photo of her newest EP "I Love My Body" released last month [P NATION]

Hwasa debuted in 2014 as a member of Mamamoo, best known for songs like "HIP" (2019) and "Décalcomanie" (2016). She also performed solo since releasing her own single "twit" in 2019. She most recently released her solo EP "I Love My Body" last month.

To find out more about Hwasa, visit Celeb Confirmed!

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]