Police have received a petition related to allegations of indecent assault against a well-known variety show producer and launched an investigation.
According to the petitioner's side and police on the 3rd, Mapo Police Station in Seoul received a petition in Aug. regarding variety show producer A. The petition reportedly stated that after A made unwanted physical contact with B, who took part in a new season of the program, A removed B from the show.
Lee Eun-ui, attorney for B, said, "Five days after the indecent assault occurred, B was notified by A of removal from the program," and added, "On the day of the location scouting for the final episode of the program, the first argument between B and A occurred, and A used that to expel B."
Lee continued, "The series of issues that happened to B were not limited to the indecent assault, and B reported this to the company and demanded action," explaining, "The management is currently acknowledging 'workplace sexual harassment' based on evidence obtained individually."
Lee added, "After the assault, B was pushed into severe secondary harm, including being isolated by those around B, and it even reached the point where A stepped forward to disparage B, making it impossible to endure further secondary harm," and said, "Even now, B hopes A will acknowledge the wrongdoing and stop causing any more secondary harm, and urges the company to show efforts to halt the secondary harm occurring inside and outside the company."
A's side flatly denied the indecent assault allegation. Lee Kyung-jun, an attorney at Cheongchul Law Firm representing A, said, "During the production process, the petitioner's words and actions led to repeated conflicts among team members," adding, "A tried to mend the situation, but it ended in a dispute with the petitioner. The petitioner expressed vehement opposition and attacked A with false information." Lee also said, "It is not true that A engaged in physical contact that caused the petitioner sexual humiliation, or made statements that disparaged the petitioner's character."
Lee said, "On Aug. 14, as a company dinner with around 160 attendees was wrapping up, we secured video showing the petitioner touching A's shoulder while A was sitting still, or the petitioner approaching from behind and trying to wrap an arm around A's shoulder as A walked ahead," and added, "The petitioner did not even specify which contact was unwanted. A will faithfully cooperate with the investigative agency's inquiry to prove innocence."