@girlbandgeek

🧵 3/3
...I feel sad and bewildered.

I don’t really know what has been going on, although I suspect the worse.

What difference, though, will my watching a YouTube of the group appearing on M Countdown really make?

Or am I a heel for even asking such a question?

MADEIN S -- L to R: Serina, Nagomi, Mashiro, MiU.

#Kpop #Idols #Labor #Exploitation #EntertainmentIndustries #MADEIN

@girlbandgeek

🧵 2/3
MADEIN S, the all Japanese member subunit of MADEIN (formerly LIMELIGHT) recently released “Blue”.

Although I like MADEIN, I am aware that the agency that manages them stands accused of serious abuse.

One Korean member, Gaeun, left the group amidst allegations of sexual harassment by an agency executive. Another Korean member, Sohye, is on hiatus “for personal reasons.” Yeseo, a Korean who, together with the Japanese Mashiro, was taken from the group Kep1er, appears to have been dungeoned by the agency.

This leaves MADEIN S, made up of the four Japanese members of MADEIN: Mashiro, MiU, Serina, and Nagomi.

A group of fans have started a campaign to put pressure on the agency:

>>We Condemn 143 Entertainment’s Inaction on the Sexual Assault Case and the Shameless Behavior of CEO Lee Yonghak .

143 Entertainment (hereinafter "143") recently announced that their idol group would be promoting in Japan. It has been three months since the sexual assault committed by CEO Lee Yonghak was clearly exposed to the public, yet 143 has neither issued a proper apology nor taken any meaningful follow-up action—only denying the facts. While law enforcement has begun accelerating the investigation, the conduct of 143 and CEO Lee Yonghak remains outrageous. The company has offered no apology or response whatsoever regarding the situation. Even the formal announcement of Lee Yonghak’s resignation has quietly disappeared, and instead, his name was listed as Executive Producer and Head of Global Business in the credits of another artist’s music video released on July 31st.

The company has yet to pay overdue production fees and wages, totaling hundreds of millions of won. Even more shockingly, it was revealed that 143 had signed exclusive contracts and arranged broadcast appearances for artists without registering as a legitimate agency under the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act. This unregistered business operation has already been reported to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism by the Youth Media Human Rights Network, and additional investigations are expected. 143 not only failed to comply with basic administrative regulations, but also ignored wage delays during production and, above all, passively allowed its CEO to commit crimes against underage artists.

What is even more serious is that CEO Lee Yonghak shows no remorse for his actions. Just last night, he posted a link to a private photo of the victim—unrelated to the current case—on his personal SNS account with the caption: “This is karma and justice.” Circumstantial evidence strongly suggests that Lee himself was the original distributor of the photo. This is not only a blatant attempt to blur the core issue but also a clear effort to defame the victim. Such conduct will undoubtedly face appropriate legal consequences.

Prosecution of Lee Yonghak is imminent. There can be no justification for violence against a minor artist under any circumstances. Swift investigation and a firm ruling by the courts must ensure the victim’s safety and allow her to regain her daily life. Even now, 143 must issue an official apology for this incident. CEO Lee Yonghak must cease his disgraceful attempts to divert attention, genuinely repent, and fully comply with the proper legal procedures.

Hanbit Media Labor Human Rights Center<<

The boycott campaign demands are set out here:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GwMbHJQXUAAuwwf.jpg?name=orig

As a result of all this,….

#Kpop #Idols #Labor #Exploitation #EntertainmentIndustries #MADEIN