Recently, Spire Entertainment leveled sexual assault allegations towards OMEGA X‘s Hwichan during a press conference, revealing a video of the alleged act taking place. Since then, the group has responded to the allegations, leaving netizens shocked by the truth behind the situation.
However, the abusive behavior of Spire Entertainment has a much longer timeline than just the recent revelations.
In October 2022, while OMEGA X were touring the U.S., Spire Entertainment’s CEO Kang Seong Hee was accused of screaming and physically abusing the members after a recording was posted online. This came after the company called out MC Entertainment over the mishandling of the tour.
얘들아 우리 밖에서 음식 시킨 거 우버 기다리고 있는데
애들 회사 대표님이 애들 때리는 거 봤어
진짜로 손이 너무 떨려서 어떻게 해야 될지 모르겠어 애들이 눈앞에서 맞고 있는데 아무것도 못해 pic.twitter.com/vJEqNPzx5n— 유채ஐ (@hwi_418) October 23, 2022
Guys, I was waiting outside for the Uber Eats that I ordered and I saw the company CEO hitting the members. I really didn’t know what to do since my hands were shaking so much. They were being hit right in front of me but I couldn’t do anything.
— @hwi_418
The company initially explained this recording as a situation where “the conversation got heated, and voices were raised,” with Kang later admitting to being the person on the recording. Spire also stated that they had “resolved all hard feelings.”
Concerns were raised for the group when they did not return to Korea as scheduled, and more accounts of the CEO’s behavior came out.
Edward Avila Calls Out Spire Entertainment’s CEO Following OMEGA X Abuse Allegations
On October 24, SBS News revealed footage from the night Kang abused the group, showing the CEO berating the members, including Jaehan, who was reportedly experiencing a panic attack. The attack continued when the members returned to the hotel, with Kang grabbing Jaehan and making him stumble.
Throughout the video and later in her explanation, Kang expressed jealousy over the members’ treatment of Jaehan.
I was only asking them if they ever thought to take care of me when I was feeling down. Or when I was passed out. I was struggling too. Me, abusing the members? No way.
— CEO Kang Seong Hee
OMEGA X eventually were able to return to Korea after supposedly buying their own flights after being stranded in LA. November saw the official suspension of OMEGA X’s activities, and the group created their own Instagram account to address fans.
Hello. We created this small communication space to convey the current situation regarding the issues that have happened to us and to thank the fans who love and support us. According to Spire Entertainment, we have all signed a memorandum stating that we will take civil and criminal responsibility if uploading to SNS without consulting the company. We ask for your understanding that although we wanted to communicate with the fans as soon as possible, we had to be very cautious.
We have had happy times since our group activities but also had to endure some painful times. When our situation became known to the public, we were worried that what we had achieved so far would be in vain. But now we have put our fears behind us and decided to be brave.
The eleven members have decided to get back up and not give up on our dreams and take this as our second opportunity. The driving force that allowed us to challenge ourselves and stick to our plans was the fans who waited, believed, and supported us. It was because of our fans that we were able to survive two years.
Although there were days when we wanted to cry because the agency was mistreating us, remembering our fans’ shouts and reading your messages before going to sleep was the only strength that kept us going.
From now on, we will continue moving forward toward our dreams as we always have. We will stand in front of our fans again with good music and performances. The eleven members have the same goal, and the fans have the same dreams as us, and it is something that is the most precious to us that we don’t want to lose again.
We apologize for the delay, and we know that many people have been worrying and waiting for us. Thank you for reading the truth that we took the courage to post. Thank you. From OX. #오메가엑스 #OMEGAX #PROTECTOMEGAX
— Omega X
Kang resigned from her position as CEO as more instances of abuse were exposed, including attempting to make the group perform while sick with COVID-19 and her sexual assault and harassment. It was also revealed that she publicly crushed on member Yechan while he was underage.
There were also calls for the chairman of the company and Kang’s husband, Hwang Seong Woo to resign.
OMEGA X held a press conference on November 16, where the group and their legal representatives stated that they would press charges against the former CEO and apply for contract terminations. The group also revealed more instances of abuse, including when Kang threatened to withhold their album if they did not drink.
Kang’s denials continued, with Spire Entertainment refuting the allegations and asking the group to return. Ultimately, the group won the lawsuit and had their contracts suspended in January 2023, making a return at the Hanteo Music Awards 2022.
The group’s contracts were terminated in May 2023, allowing them to sign under a new agency as the former CEO continued to try to sway public opinion but had more of her inappropriate behavior exposed in September 2023.
It seemed that OMEGA X were free of the agency entirely until March 18, 2023, when Spire Entertainment revealed a video it claimed showed OMEGA X’s Hwichan sexually assaulting the ex-CEO. During the press conference, a video was played showing a man appearing to touch and molest a woman “forcibly.”
OMEGA X immediately refuted the claims, claiming that Hwichan was coerced to touch the former CEO. The group’s new agency, IPQ, revealed text messages that explained the extent of Kang’s coercion and gave a full picture of the horrific night in question.
- [July 11, 2022 Monday]
Kang Seong Hee: [Picture]
Kang Seong Hee: This is driving me crazy. Let me try to wake him up and bring him with me.
Member: Oh, no… Since the chairman said he’s going home, I’ll come with him to the office ASAP!
Kang Seong Hee: That’s OK. I’ll take care of him, haha
With netizens having reacted strongly to the evidence provided, it appears the public is on OMEGA X’s side and hopes the group will be free from Spire soon.
We will continue with more updates as they occur.
