EFFORTPOST [Effortpost] 아이고! K-Pop boy band defects to a rival management company, were they escaping abuse or just con artists?

The Korean music industry doesn't put on any pretenses about "discovering" bands and pretending they have some kind of authenticity. They're quite open about their manufacturing process. A management company will hire talented teenagers, train them for years, combine them into a k-pop group, and then manage that group and keep most of the money they earn. It's a controversial system. The management company spends a lot on training and promoting the idols, but if they're a success they're basically indentured servants locked into long contracts, typically 7 years. This has led to many disputes where groups that succeed try to escape from their contract, most notably the saga of TVXQ in the 2000s.

When Crayon Pop disbanded, the management company said they owed as much as they had earned so they got nothong.

Let's play Rashoman with the latest scandal.

The Accusers' Account

Spike Entertainment formed the boy band Omega X in 2021. They put together 11 effeminate pretty boys, some of them veterans of earlier failed boy bands. Omega X fared better and began to build a following. But not everything was not going well. The members put on a happy face in public but behind the scenes they lived in misery, tormented by the cruel CEO of Spike Entertainment, Kang Seong-hee. She subjected them verbal, physical, and even sexual abuse. She even went as far as gaslamping!

This seems to be the only photo of her floating around the internet. Presumably it was picked to be unflattering.

This situation could no longer be kept secret after a shocking incident in October 2002. While on tour in Los Angeles, Kang was sern berating the band for not publicly thanking Spike at the end of their set. One of these waifish boys, Jaehan, had a panic attack but Kang was relentless in her tirade. She became so furious that she lunged at the poor boy and knocked him down.

Omega X, the least effeminate K-Pop boy band.

Omega X fangirls witnessed this horrifying scene and were able to record it. Finally the boys had the evidence they needed to sue Spike Entertainment and win their freedom. At first it was a struggle to get by with no company to promote them. Their luck changed when two members were cast in the boys' love drama (yes, it's what you think it is) A Shoulder to Cry On. The show was a hit.and the softcore porn company that it produced it, Picturesque Entertainment, offered to manage Omega X. Rebranding itself as IPQ Entertainment, it took the boys on and entered the music industry.

A Shoulder to Cry On. The literal translation is more like "comfort the boy".

Kang wouldn't let them go that easy. Driven by greed and her jealous lust for the young flower boys, she sued IPQ. Her minions spread the vicious lie that the band had been plotting with IPQ to defect to them all along. Now more than ever, all true fangirls must unite to protect Omega X!

The Witch's Account

Kang had some quite interesting things to say in her defense. Her father had died while they were in Los Angeles and she had to stay there babysitting the band so she missed his funeral. But the boys weren't grateful. They made shockingly insensitive remarks, like "Hey dude, what does this have to do with us? We got you flowers and we all had to chip in $10." During the incident in the hotel the boys were insulting her, which was conveniently edited out of the video.

After the video went viral, she got a peculiar ultimatum from Danal Entertainment, a company that had invested $4 million in Spike. They would pull their money out unless Spike gave Omega X to them. Kang said she would have to ask the band, but Danal said they had already talked to the band and written up the contract. That's when she knew the whole thing had been a scam by Danal to steal the band. Apparently she refused, which led the band to sue to end their contract. The company IPQ Entertainment that they later signed with is essentially a subsidiary of Danal.

The Truth (My Account)

The little brats are lying about what happened in Los Angeles:

• At the concert they chose not to read the line off the teleprompter thanking Spike Entertainment, so we know they were trying to provoke her.

• You can't actually see her assault anyone in the videos.

• She is yelling at Jaehan during his "panic attack". She's telling him to stop faking it because he was faking it.

• In Korean culture you're actually supposed to not intentionally piss somebody off while they're mourning the death of a parent. I don't believe that all 11 of them were unaware of that.

Hieronymus Bosch's depiction of Heck, a place where all 11 members of Omega X are destined to go.

Danal Entertainment demanded control of Omega X and a few months later Omega X just happens to coincidentally sign with a subsidiary of Danal. What are the odds of that?

The best part is the sexual harassment allegations. There are a couple photos of her touching the idols' arms. If you know anything about k-pop fans, you know why they're so outraged. They're just jealous that it's not them doing it.

As of now, the two sides are pursuing legal action as well as fighting a proxy war via rival youtubers. Further gossip and slapfighting can be expected before the crisis is resolved. She may be named Kang but to me she's a queen and I hope she slays.

Sources:

YouTube fangirl shows all the evidence with subtitles for what Kang is screaming at them. It's kino.

An in depth account of the whole saga.

!effortposters