OMEGA X refutes claims of forced indecent assault by former agency, SPIRE Entertainment, and expresses deep regret for the press conference.

OMEGA X refuted the claim by former agency SPIRE Entertainment that "member Fichan is the perpetrator of a forced indecent assault." IPQ, OMEGA X's current agency, released an official statement today (20th) expressing deep regret for SPIRE Entertainment's press conference held on the 19th. IPQ revealed that "the claim that Fichan was present at the drinking party to resolve his worries about enlisting after the enlistment order was issued is false." They also pointed out that "the situation described by SPIRE Entertainment does not match the behavior of Fichan." OMEGA X held a press conference on November 16, 2022, revealing that they had been subjected to verbal abuse, assault, and sexual harassment by former representative Kang Song-hee. After winning a provisional disposition lawsuit with the agency, they signed an exclusive contract with IPQ and continued their activities. Meanwhile, SPIRE Entertainment held a press conference on the 19th, claiming that former representative Kang Song-hee was subjected to forced indecent assault by Fichan, causing a stir.・"Member subjected to forced indecent assault" OMEGA X's former agency, new claim after all・OMEGA X, former representative reported for assault on member...Report on progress of lawsuit with former agency [IPQ Official Comment Full Text] Hello, this is IPQ. We express our deep regret for the press conference held by SPIRE Entertainment on March 19, 2024. We will clearly convey our position regarding the dishonorable claims made against OMEGA X and member Fichan during the press conference. 1. The drinking party shown in the surveillance camera footage was not a gathering to resolve the worries of the member who received the enlistment order, but rather one that was forced by the agency's executives. According to SPIRE Entertainment's claim, on July 11, 2022, member Fichan participated in a drinking party to discuss his worries about enlisting and requested a meeting with former representative Kang Song-hee. However, contrary to the claim, Fichan's enlistment order was issued on August 1, 2022, and he was notified of his enlistment in mid-September. Therefore, the story that he was present to resolve the "worries after the enlistment order was issued" proves that the claim is false. The drinking party that started on the evening of July 10 was not to listen to the members' worries, but rather to comfort Kang Song-hee, who felt lonely because he did not understand the labor they put into the album release and sales. Also, during the drinking party that continued until the morning of July 11, representative Fan Song-woo woke up the members who were sleeping in the dormitory and tried to make them drink alcohol, as confirmed by the attached materials, showing that it was not simply a gathering to listen to the members' worries. 2. We will explain the frequent coercion of alcohol by the executives, continued verbal and physical abuse, gaslighting, demands for skinship and affection, and high-handed attitudes toward the members. As mentioned above, former representative Kang Song-hee and representative Fan Song-woo forced the members to drink alcohol several times during the contract period. Also, due to the long-term gaslighting and high-handed attitudes, the members were under severe mental stress. If they refused the excessive demands for affection and skinship from the former representative, or did not show a submissive attitude, they had many fears of being excluded from album activities, or having their styling and activities restricted, and feared retaliation. We will provide an accurate account of the situation on July 11, 2022, which occurred in such an atmosphere. When the surveillance camera footage was released on July 11, despite it being past 2 a.m., representative Fan Song-woo said he wanted to drink with the members who were sleeping in the dormitory, and tried to continue the high-handed drinking party in the dormitory. However, former representative Kang Song-hee stopped member Fichan, who was trying to leave, saying he had something to discuss. SPIRE Entertainment explained this as a place for Fichan to discuss his worries about enlisting, but it does not make sense for Fichan, who had not received a notification, to express his worries about enlisting. Also, according to the testimony of the members present and the former manager, it was former representative Kang Song-hee who requested a meeting with Fichan, excluding the members and executives. After the members and executives left, former representative Kang Song-hee demanded excessive affection and skinship from Fichan, as he usually did. Since there was no one else present, Fichan had no choice but to follow the instructions out of fear of threats, verbal abuse, and physical violence if he did not comply. SPIRE Entertainment described this as "forced indecent assault," but even in the released surveillance camera footage, Fichan's actions do not show any coercion, and there is no evidence of the other party expressing refusal. Through this, it can be understood that it was a situation demanded by former representative Kang Song-hee, who usually forced affection and skinship, and that Fichan directly requested it, so there is no part that appears to be forced. After being forced to demand skinship several times, Fichan fell asleep while drunk, and former representative Kang Song-hee took a picture of Fichan sleeping and sent it to the former manager. However, he stopped the manager who was going to pick up the drunk Fichan, and said he would take him himself, showing behavior that does not match the situation of claiming to have committed forced indecent assault. However, even after Fichan fell asleep, former representative Kang Song-hee continued to demand that Fichan wake up and again demanded affection and skinship, maintaining a high-handed attitude. Fichan, under the long-term pressure of gaslighting and the fear of having to show excessive skinship to a company representative of a similar age to his parents, tried to escape from the first floor of the building. In the process, Fichan fell down the stairs and was injured, unable to get up, and former representative Kang Song-hee approached him and stepped on his head, and danced in front of him, showing strange behavior. Fichan, out of fear from the situation, made every effort to hide in the first-floor toilet. However, former representative Kang Song-hee chased after him, raised his voice, and added mental and physical stress by shouting. This situation continued until after 5 a.m., and former manager Kevin, who was worried about Fichan not returning late after the drinking party started, returned to the company around 5:45 a.m. and found Fichan hiding behind the locked toilet door, taking a picture of himself in front of the mirror in the first-floor lobby. The figure of former representative Kang Song-hee taking a picture of himself at the time can be confirmed through a post uploaded to his own Facebook account. 3. Since the incident on July 11, 2022, the members have begun to lose trust in the agency, and it is clear that the claims of making excuses and illegal filming are blatant lies. The verbal and physical abuse, high-handed attitudes, and demands for affection directed at OMEGA X members by former representative Kang Song-hee and representative Fan Song-woo, as well as the gaslighting, have been ongoing for a long time, as has been publicly disclosed through photos and videos. We have a large number of materials, such as conversations between the members and former representative Kang Song-hee and representative Fan Song-woo, that have not been disclosed until now, and we plan to release additional materials. Please understand that these materials were not filmed in a manipulated situation at a specific point in time, but were the result of long-term "power harassment." We will continue to request the release of all surveillance camera footage from the day of the incident and the following day, without editing, and the release of all materials that can provide a complete understanding of the overall context of the incident. If the released surveillance camera footage is recovered through forensic means, it is understood that other surveillance cameras installed in the office at the time can also be recovered and confirmed, and we plan to request the relevant footage as evidence from the investigative authorities. We strongly criticize SPIRE Entertainment for only releasing fragmented footage of the surveillance camera and making one-sided claims, and express our deep regret. The released footage does not accurately reflect the overall context of the incident, and is being used as a basis to unjustly condemn member Fichan as a perpetrator of forced indecent assault. We again request the release of the full surveillance camera footage from the day of the incident that has not been made public, and the confirmation of additional materials to reveal the truth. We will proceed with the prosecution of the false charges against Fichan for the forced indecent assault claimed by SPIRE Entertainment. We express deep concern for the unreasonable situation in which OMEGA X finds itself, and will make every effort to protect the rights and honor of all the artists under our management, including member Fichan, by mobilizing all legal means. We request the active cooperation of all parties involved to ensure that the truth is revealed through a fair and accurate investigation. We are confident that the frustration of the 11 young men who have not given up their dreams and have tried to inform the world while enduring the verbal and physical abuse that has continued for two years within SPIRE Entertainment will be resolved as soon as possible, and we are confident that the truth will be revealed. Finally, we express our gratitude to all those who continue to support us with unwavering love and support, including the fans, even in the midst of the long legal procedures, lawsuits, and the spread of false information. We will do our best to maintain the trust of all parties, including the artists and fans, based on transparency and honesty. Thank you very much.