Dog trainer Kang Hyung-wook steps down as Bodeum Company CEO amid controversy

Dog trainer Kang Hyung-wook [JOONGANG ILBO]

Dog trainer Kang Hyung-wook announced his retirement as CEO of his enterprise, Bodeum Company, in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

“I have decided to stop my career as a CEO and focus on my life as a dog trainer,” said Kang. “I have seen the supportive comments and emails from people waiting for my [dog training] education videos.”

Kang has been embroiled in controversy since May, when negative reviews began appearing across job search platforms and in the comments sections of his YouTube videos, characterizing him as an abusive employer.

The controversy escalated to legal territory when two former employees of Kang's company, along with 331 citizens recruited through social media, reported the trainer and his wife, Susan Elder, to Gyeonggi's Namyangju Nambu Police Precinct for allegedly accessing employees' office messenger conversations without their consent.

Kang said he would fully cooperate with police regarding the accusations of workplace abuse filed against him.

“I have recently heard news of a police report that has been filed against me and my wife,” Kang said. “We will fully cooperate with the police to reveal the truth.”

Kang's Instragram post [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Kang also stated that he would pursue legal action against those spreading false rumors about him and his wife.

“We will pursue firm legal action against people accusing us with unverified information, creating unnecessary misunderstandings, spreading rumors and falsely reporting us to authorities,” Kang said.

Kang revealed his plans moving forward in the Instagram post, while apologizing to people he has “disappointed.”

“I am planning to return to my daily life where my family and our dogs can go walking in public again,” Kang said. “I will humbly accept any words toward me if we meet on the street. I have missed you all.”

Kang gained popularity after appearing on the dog training entertainment program “There is No Bad Dog in the World,” which began airing in 2015 on EBS. A number of Kang’s public appearances, including the KBS TV show “Dogs are Wonderful” and the offline event “Dang Dang Trekking,” were canceled.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]