143 Entertainment has denied allegations of sexual assault involving its CEO and a MADEIN member.
Was a MADEIN Member Sexually Assaulted By Their Company’s CEO?
On November 22, JTBC’s investigative program “Crime Chief” aired a report detailing allegations of sexual assault by an agency CEO against a rookie girl group member. Although the program refrained from naming the group or agency, viewers noted the inclusion of blurred footage from one of MADEIN’s music show performances—additionally, the group’s description aligned with MADEIN, who debuted this past September under 143 Entertainment.
Following the broadcast, speculation quickly spread online, further fueled by 143 Entertainment’s recent announcement that MADEIN member Gaeun would be taking a temporary hiatus for health reasons. This led many to question if Gaeun was the individual referenced in the report.
The Agency’s Response
In response, 143 Entertainment released an official statement via MADEIN’s social media accounts, firmly denying the allegations and addressing the swirling rumors. The agency stated, “The claims made in the report are completely unfounded, and the CEO has not engaged in any misconduct toward the members of MADEIN.” They added that legal action would be taken against the spread of false information that could harm both the company’s and MADEIN’s reputations.
“First, there was no sexual harassment or other sexual contact stemming from abuse of power between the CEO and the member that was mentioned on the broadcast, and we are letting you know the report is not true,” the statement read. “Additionally, we would like to inform you that regarding the hotel-related content involving the member in question, their other acquaintances were also all there together at the same time.”
“The content reported [on the program] was based on reported false statements made by other people, not by the member in question,” it added. “We are clearly informing you once again that these claims are unfounded.”
The controversy has left fans and the public seeking clarity, with many expressing concern for the well-being of MADEIN members.
