Open World Entertainment's CEO arrested
13 Apr – It was reported that the CEO of Shinhwa's Jun Jin, Open World Entertainment has been arrested on alleged charges of sexual harassment.
According to Koreaboo website, he was arrested by undercover investigators near Gangnam for allegedly sexually harassing, assaulting, and raping his agency's artists and trainees. Reports to investigators were filed a month earlier and officials have been working on the case since then, interviewing over 20 victims and testifiers, gathering further evidence on the case.
An official stated, "We've been receiving countless reports that the CEO was using his higher position to regularly sexually harass and assault his trainees."
However, after a press conference, the company issued a statement on the matter, saying that they intend to sue organisations and media companies for "Defamation of Character Due to False, Exaggerated Reports, and Interference of Work", after multiple articles surrounding rumours having any of the company's artists involved in the case appeared.
They clearly stated that apart from the CEO, none of Open World Entertainment's artists are involved with the case, and any articles involving them will be reacted upon.
The statement revealed, "Exaggerations and false reports (such as the number of victims being over 20, or company artists being involved on the matter) by a portion of the media reports on Open World Entertainment's CEO Jang Seok-woo and on the confiscation, investigation, and arrest. By releasing the real names and pictures of stars under the agency who have nothing to do with the suspicions concerning the CEO, artists and the reputation of Open World Entertainment have been defamed, causing loss and setbacks in work.
Shedding light on such a situation, on behalf of the Open World Entertainment's officials and agency artists, CEO Jang Seok-woo's legal representatives request the withdrawal of articles, and will take legal action against media outlets that do not issue out correction apology articles as well as the rest of the media outlets that have been blindly following the false, exaggerated reports, and will also make sure that there will be no reports defaming agency artists."
However, the latest news from Allkpop website stated that Open Word Entertainment's CEO has changed his stance and now admitted to a portion of the suspicions against him.
On 12 April, Gangnam Police Station reported, "We arrested Mr. Jang on the suspicions of sexual harassment and sexual assault, and the total amount of female victims are six, with two of them being teens, which are underage. Different from before, when he denied all of the accusations, he has now admitted to a portion of them."
They continued saying, "This is a sex crime of a sensitive nature so we are approaching it with caution. We cannot confirm for you everything regarding the female victims."
