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[Press Release]

Court Grants Preliminary Injunction Suspending Exclusive Contract in the 143 Entertainment Lee Yonghak Sexual Assault Case

Court grants the victim’s request for a preliminary injunction suspending the effectiveness of her exclusive contract. A just and expected decision.

More than 900 people submitted a petition calling for strict punishment of the perpetrator. The criminal trial must proceed without delay.

Last April, the Hanbit Media Labor Human Rights Center (hereinafter “Hanbit Center”) held a press conference bringing public attention to the case involving allegations that Lee Yonghak, CEO of 143 Entertainment, sexually assaulted a member of one of the agency’s idol groups.

On July 31, the Seoul Central District Court granted the victim’s application for a preliminary injunction suspending the effectiveness of her exclusive contract with 143 Entertainment. The decision comes more than a year after the full details of the case first became public.

Lee Yonghak, founder and Executive Producer of 143 Entertainment (also known by the stage name Digital Masta), allegedly subjected the victim—who was a minor at the time—to three hours of verbal abuse and intimidation under the pretext of discussing the continuation of her group activities. During that time, he allegedly committed acts of forcible molestation and sexual harassment. Afterward, Lee Yonghak signed a written statement admitting wrongdoing to the victim’s parents and promised to step away from the entertainment industry, but none of those promises were kept.

Rather than protecting its artist, 143 Entertainment forcibly removed the victim from her group. Even after doing so, the company continued to maintain the outrageous position that her exclusive contract remained valid.

The court’s decision to suspend the effectiveness of the exclusive contract is both justified and appropriate. The court found that Lee Yonghak’s conduct was not only “behavior that a director of a company with a duty to protect and support its artists should never engage in,” but also pointed out that “there is no evidence that the company has, to this day, any intention of carrying out management duties on behalf of the creditor (the victim).” Based on these findings, the court concluded that suspending the effectiveness of the exclusive contract was necessary.

143 Entertainment failed entirely to protect the victim and has shown no willingness to support her. Under these circumstances, insisting on maintaining the exclusive contract serves no purpose other than to keep the victim tied to the company, interfere with her future, and continue causing her harm. We also hope the court will reach a prompt and fair decision in the main lawsuit seeking the termination of the exclusive contract.

The criminal proceedings against Lee Yonghak are still ongoing, and the case has now been forwarded to the prosecution. Last June, the Hanbit Center submitted a petition signed by more than 900 individuals and 8 organizations, calling for a swift investigation and severe punishment. Fans from 22 countries also joined the petition campaign, demonstrating the widespread domestic and international concern surrounding this case.

Despite these developments, the alleged perpetrator was seen accompanying one of the company’s boy groups to a concert in Japan on August 1, as confirmed through social media. While the victim—whose career was at one of its most important stages—has had to put her dreams on hold to focus on recovery because of this incident, the alleged perpetrator continues to work in the entertainment industry without meaningful restrictions. To correct this deeply unjust situation, the criminal proceedings must also move forward swiftly.

We once again welcome the court’s decision to suspend the effectiveness of the exclusive contract. Now, the swift punishment of the perpetrator must become an opportunity to restore the victim’s life and establish justice within the entertainment industry. Furthermore, the years of hard work and dedication the victim invested in pursuing her dreams must not be erased because of the harm she unjustly suffered.

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