According to Dispatch, the incident occurred during a company dinner held in June 2025 at a restaurant in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. The CEO of Next Kitchen, identified as Jung, who is also the husband of Kurly CEO Kim Seul-a, allegedly moved his seat next to the female employee, referred to as A, and repeatedly engaged in unwanted physical contact, including touching her arms, shoulders, back, and waist, while whispering remarks such as “I like you” into her ear.
Despite visible discomfort from A and the presence of other employees, Jung allegedly continued the behavior, reportedly using A’s probationary evaluation as leverage and implying that her full-time employment depended on his decision. Messages exchanged between A and a colleague during the dinner indicate that multiple witnesses noticed and were disturbed by the situation.
A described the incident as a prolonged ordeal, saying, “It was a 100-minute nightmare,” and explained that she felt unable to resist at the time. “He is the husband of the Kurly CEO and the absolute authority in that company,” she said, adding that she was undergoing a probationary evaluation and feared repercussions.
Text messages exchanged in real time between A and a colleague at the dinner suggest the incident was witnessed by others. One colleague reportedly wrote, “Why is he whispering like that? That’s disgusting,” while A replied, “I’m not the only one who felt it, right? He even grabbed my hand pretending it was a handshake.”
After the issue spread internally, Jung reportedly summoned A to a meeting room and apologized, saying, “I did something crazy. I have no excuse. I’m very sorry.” However, he later attempted to downplay the incident, explaining that it was related to alcohol and cultural misunderstandings. He reportedly said, “I think I became too Westernized in how I view physical contact when drinking.”
A said no formal disciplinary action was taken against Jung, and she continued working while struggling emotionally. “I started avoiding people’s eyes at work. Even though I was the victim, going to the office became frightening,” she said. Over time, she was diagnosed with moderate depression and PTSD and ultimately decided to resign.
A later filed a criminal complaint, stating, “This lawsuit is both about holding him accountable and about recovering myself.” Prosecutors acknowledged the validity of the sexual assault charges and indicted Jung without detention. His legal representative confirmed the indictment, saying, “It is true that he has been indicted, but we cannot comment further as the trial is ongoing.”
Next Kitchen is structurally dependent on Kurly, which holds a 46.41% stake and accounts for nearly all of the company’s revenue. Despite this, Kurly has not issued a public response. Dispatch reported that CEO Kim Seul-a did not reply to the victim’s formal notice. The case has sparked criticism over workplace safety, executive accountability, and the handling of sexual misconduct allegations within companies closely tied to powerful corporate figures.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스