OMEGA X member Hwichan has publicly shared his emotional turmoil after being cleared of sexual assault allegations filed by a former agency CEO in her 50s.
On December 16, Hwichan appeared on JTBC’s investigative program Case Leader, where he spoke candidly about the investigation process and the psychological toll it took on him.
“From the police investigation stage, I felt like I had already been branded a criminal,” Hwichan said. “I was devastated. It felt like my life was over.”
Hwichan described the day of the alleged incident, claiming that he was subjected to verbal abuse, threats, and unwanted physical contact despite repeated refusals.
“We were alone, and the swearing and threats continued,” he stated. “I kept saying no, but physical contact was forced on me. I was so scared and humiliated that I ran away.”
He further alleged that the former CEO referred to herself as “mom” while demanding expressions of affection and repeatedly threatened him by asking, “Do you want to quit being a celebrity?”
“Honestly, it felt disgusting,” Hwichan said.
On December 10, the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office dismissed the sexual assault charges against Hwichan, citing insufficient evidence.
In the dismissal notice, prosecutors explained that the CCTV footage submitted by the accuser consisted only of edited clips lasting 6, 9, and 11 seconds rather than the full original recording.
The prosecution stated that “the submitted footage alone is insufficient to conclude that forced sexual contact occurred.”
Investigators also requested the original unedited footage, but the accuser reportedly failed to comply. Additionally, an employee responsible for editing the footage identified as a key witness did not respond to multiple summons.
The prosecutors further referenced court rulings and arbitration decisions related to OMEGA X, noting that the accuser had previously used abusive language toward the group, placing members in a psychologically intimidated state.
“Even based on the CCTV footage alone, it cannot be ruled out that the actions occurred under pressure or coercion from the accuser,” the prosecution concluded, determining that the acts could not be definitively classified as sexual assault.
Despite the dismissal, the former CEO stated on Case Leader that the case is “not over” and that she intends to file an objection after securing additional evidence.
Meanwhile, Hwichan and his current agency IPQ are reviewing potential legal action for false accusation. In an official statement released on December 11, IPQ said: “The prosecution has concluded the case with a ‘no charges’ decision. Hwichan has endured severe social stigma and psychological suffering due to allegations that were inconsistent with facts. We hope distorted claims and malicious attacks will cease.”
The case has once again raised broader questions about power dynamics, false accusations, and due process within the K-pop industry particularly in situations involving agency authority figures and idols.
Sources: Daum