Maidin's Agency Denies Allegations of Sexual Misconduct Against CEO

The agency representing the girl group Maidin has firmly denied allegations of sexual misconduct involving one of its members and the company's CEO, which were raised during a broadcast. On November 23, 143 Entertainment took to social media to assert that there was no sexual harassment or coercive sexual contact between the member and the CEO, stating, "The reports are not true."

The agency further clarified that the member in question was with friends at a hotel, countering claims made in the media. They emphasized that the allegations stemmed from misinterpretations by individuals not directly involved, reiterating that the claims are baseless. They also expressed regret for any distress caused by the sudden emergence of these allegations.

The controversy began when JTBC's program 사건반장 reported that a member of Maidin, who debuted in September, had accused the CEO of sexual harassment. The member alleged that she was subjected to unwanted sexual contact by the CEO on October 26 and has since paused her activities due to health issues, as reported by the show.

In the broadcast, a recording was shared in which the member claimed the CEO made inappropriate comments, suggesting a quid pro quo regarding her wishes. She described instances of forced physical contact, stating, "He would ask, 'Can I kiss you?' and would try to force his tongue into my mouth while I was trying to keep my lips closed. He continued to touch me inappropriately despite my attempts to resist."

Following the broadcast, netizens speculated that the allegations were directed at Maidin, particularly since member Gaeun had recently announced a hiatus from activities for health reasons. Gaeun had shared her decision to step back from the group on November 11, leading to further scrutiny of the situation.