Former Trainee Alleges A Top First-Generation Idol Assaulted Him — Asks For An Apology

A netizen’s online post alleging abuse at the hands of a first-generation “legend” is going viral.

The netizen uploaded his post to an online community on June 6. The post is titled, “I was abused by a top first-generation idol, and I gave up on my dreams. I want an apology.”

Uploaded by netizen as proof he was a trainee | Nate Pann

The netizen alleges he was a trainee for a company for which the first-generation idol was the CEO. The netizen posted a photo of himself with fellow trainees as proof.

The netizen alleged that six years ago, he was assaulted by the idol and gave up on his dreams from the shock. The netizen stated he wanted a sincere apology from the idol.

According to the netizen, the idol is a member of a group that is well-known in Korea, and the idol himself is a beloved member who once enjoyed immense popularity.

He belongs to a group that was very popular in Korea and still has a lot of fans. The idol is a very popular member.

— Netizen

The netizen alleged that the abuse occurred when while discussing the musical direction for the group, there was a disagreement between him and the idol.

On February 18, 2016, the idol/CEO called me into his office with the label’s producer. At the time, the idol explained the musical direction of the group. He explained we would be making music that was popular during the 70s-90s, saying that this type of music would make us popular. The idol then asked the producer and me what we thought. The producer said because it sounded ‘old,’ a younger demographic might not like it, to which I agreed.

— Netizen

The poster then alleges the idol started cursing and physically assaulting the trainee. When the trainee arrived for practice the next day, rather than an apology, he received an explanation of why the assault was justified.

The idol then started cursing at me and then slapped me four times on my left cheek and twice on my right. He then told me to take off my hat and then punched me on my head twice. Because I was afraid of violating my contract, I returned to practice the next day. The CEO called me into his office again. I thought it would be to apologize. The CEO, however, justified the assault and lectured me about why I needed to get hit, which shocked me even more. Ever since then, I would have tears whenever I saw him or thought of that day. Due to the shock, I decided to quit on my dreams, and because of the fear, I wasn’t able to do anything for the past six years.

— Netizen

The netizen finished the post by stating he was afraid that there would be more victims if he didn’t come forward and that he didn’t want anything other than a sincere apology. Neither the identification of the poster nor the idol has been revealed. Stay tuned for updates.