Why is DSP Media suing ex-April member Lee Hyunjoo? 'Brother' claims she attempted suicide after ill-treatment
Lee Hyunjoo is facing legal trouble, following the allegations she made against her former bandmates of South Korean girl group April. Hyunjoo's agency DSP Media has released a new statement that says the singer is being sued for bullying accusations the company deems as "not true."
DSP Media says they met with Hyunjoo and her mother more than once to come to a resolution, but seemingly to no avail. Additionally, certain family members and a classmate who supported the singer with the abuse allegations are also facing the lawsuit.
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DSP Media fires back with lawsuit
DSP Media's statement, issued on March 2, is as follows: "This is our official statement on the controversy about Lee Hyunjoo. Even after the multiple posts uploaded by Lee Hyunjoo’s family and someone claiming to be her old classmate, the agency fulfilled its duties toward its artist by meeting with Lee Hyunjoo and her mother twice."
"Lee Hyunjoo insisted on her one-sided claims that she was the only victim and demanded a statement that was not true. Despite this, the agency wanted to continue discussions with her. But after the person identifying himself as Lee Hyunjoo’s brother uploaded another one-sided post in the early hours of March 3, we determined that the situation could no longer be resolved through dialogue," the company said.
The statement continued, "The agency has done its best to protect both Lee Hyunjoo and the APRIL members. But from now on, we will be taking strong legal action in both criminal and civil lawsuits against Lee Hyunjoo, as well as her family members and acquaintances who have spread these allegations online."
"We apologize to all the fans who love and support our DSP Media artists. We will work toward a solution that will not put to waste the time we have spent together. Thank you," the statement added.
What are the allegations?
Lee Hyunjoo reportedly left April in 2016 after other group members ostracized her, according to online claims made by a person who called himself her brother. "It's not true my sister quit the band because she wanted to go into acting," he said. "I've always wanted to tell people the truth… I feel now is the time to work up the courage to speak out about it."
According to Korea times, he claimed that Hyunjoo suffered panic attacks and dyspnea as a result of her treatment by her bandmates and even attempted suicide. He also said that DSP Media coerced her into writing a statement that she was leaving the group because she wanted to be an actor and not a singer. According to her brother, Hyunjoo had taken up the issue of being bullied with her agency several times before her debut and asked to be removed.
Hyunjoo's brother added that when she had collapsed during work, staff and members didn’t take her to the hospital straight away and just left her there. He shared that she had been reluctant to take the medicine prescribed because it made her sleepy and she didn't want to miss practice or work.
He also claimed that he had been quiet about the issue for years because he didn't want to negatively impact his sister's career, but eventually decided to "tell the truth," because his family keep getting reminded of the issue when April appears on TV. He said, "I don't want to see my sister suffer anymore."
According to Soompi, when addressing Hyunjoo's departure from April, he said that the agency gave her an ultimatum to either participate in the 'Tinkerbell' promotions despite her poor health or to leave the group.
He wrote that in the time before leaving the group, Hyunjoo slept and showered at the agency instead of going back to the dorm. He claimed that she had attempted suicide at this point and that the agency came to the hospital afterward but told her to go to work. It was at that stage that Hyunjoo's supposed brother said she had had enough and decided to leave the group.
In conclusion, he said he would attach his sister’s hospital documents as evidence because DSP Media refused to admit wrongdoing or took responsibility. He noted that he wanted the members and the agency to apologize and reflect on their actions.