A YouTuber who hindered the activities of boy group OMEGA X by spreading fake news has been indicted and sent to the prosecutor's office.
On the 27th, OMEGA X's current agency, IPQ, announced, "Since July 2023, the YouTuber behind the 'K-pop idol trainer In_jiung' channel has been tormenting the members of OMEGA X by spreading lethal fake news, after they had already suffered verbal abuse, physical assault, and even sexual harassment from a former agency executive. This individual was indicted on March 18th."
According to the agency, the 'K-pop idol trainer In_jiung' channel falsely claimed that "the transfer of OMEGA X between agencies was pre-arranged by SBS, IPQ, and OMEGA X," "the members who suffered verbal and physical abuse actually provoked the former agency executive," and "the criminal complaints filed by the members ended in May 2023 with no charges." These broadcasts were made without the slightest fact-checking, defaming the members with untrue content.
Additionally, the YouTuber is accused of making severely defamatory false statements about people close to OMEGA X, including claims that "a member's father, a former journalist, solicited articles from the media" and "OMEGA X's former manager acted as a broker during the members' transfer to the current agency."
The Seoul Mapo Police Station has also sent the cases filed by OMEGA X's father and former manager against the YouTuber to the prosecutor's office with a recommendation for indictment.
Noh Jong-eon, the legal representative for OMEGA X (from the law firm Existence), stated, "This is a prime example of how cyber attackers destroy celebrities by spreading unverified false information. The victims have endured great fear, anxiety, and isolation for two years due to deliberate attempts to obstruct and delay the investigation. It's high time for legislation to prevent cyber attacks."
Previously, the police had sent the case of a former agency executive accused of sexually harassing six OMEGA X members between July and September 2022 to the prosecutor's office on the 7th.
Moreover, during a U.S. tour in October 2022, the former agency executive was fined 500,000 won for assault after pulling hard on the hood of a T-shirt, causing a fall, but has appealed for a formal trial.
IPQ stated, "Please remember the journey of the OMEGA X members who have faced numerous challenges but never stopped pursuing music. The agency will take all possible measures, including criminal complaints, damage lawsuits, and legislative petitions against the former agency and the cyber attacker YouTuber, to ensure the members can continue to chase their dreams."
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)