Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton)'s side filed a criminal complaint against A, the head of the opposing hospitality company, over a controversy that escalated into allegations of 'power harassment.' The agency BtheHC said it submitted the complaint on the 19th applying defamation by false statement and obstruction of business, and said it also sent a formal letter requesting a correction to Dispatch, which had been involved in the back-and-forth over the reporting.
BtheHC described the matter as "an act of retaliation after A, who was in financial distress, tried and failed to extort money by pressuring a famous athlete." It also used the phrase "malicious smearing that abused celebrity status."
The agency highlighted the 'background of the relationship termination' and the 'correction of the reported allegations' as key points. BtheHC explained that the cause of the controversy was that after giving up intent to renew the contract in Oct. 2025, the opposing company, bitter over the failed renewal, deliberately attempted to slander them.
As reasons for ending the cooperation, it listed △concealment of closure in Mar. 2025 △recognition of internal unpaid wages at the company and the representative's personal debt △collapse of trust due to unauthorized use of the player's portrait rights △the company representative's criminal record. The agency also mentioned circumstances suggesting "the company hid its closure during the contract period and tried to attract investment by using Hwang Hee-chan's portrait rights without permission."
It also revealed A's past actions. BtheHC said A has a long prison term for drug-related convictions, and that while active as a streamer A caused social controversy by broadcasting reckless driving that resulted in a vehicle burning down. It added the claim that it submitted evidence of circumstances showing A pressured the player for economic gain to investigative authorities.
The agency pointed to the 'contract structure' as the starting point of the dispute. According to the materials, the overall contract framework combined "provision of the player's portrait rights free of charge" and "provision of hospitality services for the player and immediate family free of charge," with the contract period presented as from Aug. 2024 to Aug. 2025. BtheHC denied the suggestion of "extracting free services outside the contract," saying "hospitality for immediate family is a clause specified in the contract."
In response to the 'power harassment' framing raised in reports, specific itemized rebuttals followed. The agency argued regarding 'improper orders and power harassment allegations' that it was the other side that pushed forward the hospitality despite the agency's objections, and specified that tent setup and removal, lighting fires, and grocery shopping were carried out by the family directly. It explained that the conversation known as the 'grocery shopping order' was a distorted interpretation of informational guidance that there was a market on the way to the lodging.
Regarding allegations about vehicle use, it drew a line by saying "they used the vehicle specified in the contract or a vehicle voluntarily recommended by the company," rejecting claims of a 'forced demand for supercars.' After a minor vehicle collision, it said, "we communicated with the company immediately," and that regarding insurance processing completion and inquiries about additional charges, they were told "it's fine, don't worry about it," denying reports that said they demanded "take the car away to get it repaired."
On the claim of 'failure to fulfill promotional duties,' the agency countered that it intended to comply and that in addition to the company's inadequate preparation there was no specific posting method or request. On the management authority issue, it pointed out contradictions in the opposing side's claims across different outlets, citing the chronological order between the start of hospitality provision (Aug. 2024) and the timing of the 'management promise' claim (after Aug. 2025).
It also raised issues with Dispatch's reporting process. BtheHC explained that it had continuously provided rebuttal materials and communicated from Dec. 10, 2025, through Feb. 9, 2026, and that on Feb. 12 it requested a correction and delivered additional materials but received no separate feedback. It formalized the 'sending of a correction request letter' after accusing the outlet of piecing together one-sided claims while excluding objective evidence and framing the reporting as unfair.
The agency said it also secured 'third-party testimony.' A staff member of a partner company that actually handled the hospitality at the request of the company reported that "on the contrary, A was the one who committed power harassment," and said the testimony included that the staff member himself was also suffering from a "reckless lawsuit victimization."
BtheHC also specified a "zero-tolerance principle." Saying it will hold criminally accountable to the end for substantial obstruction of business and defamation, it announced it will continuously document the spread of false information and malicious posts. It added that CEO Hwang Hee-jung is rebutting the allegations by publishing materials such as contracts and conversation records on personal social media.
At the end it included a 'partner company courtesy' section. The agency said, contrary to common perception, there were no free provisions of tickets, uniforms, or soccer cleats and that the player and the agency paid individually, while listing support details including payment of 11 million won in encouragement money, provision of skybox tickets, hotel stay vouchers, gifts of worn uniforms and soccer cleats, provision of Wolverhampton lodging, and provision of domestic hospitality accommodations. It also claimed that although the hospitality service clause covered food and beverage provision, the agency paid the meal costs in full.
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