Ex-BabyBoo Dayul claims she was sexually harassed while in group, fans' support split
Trigger Warning: Sexual Harassment / Assault
While there have been many instances of K-pop idols facing multiple hardships during their rookie years, sexual harassment is more or less something that many idols have faced. Stars that make it big in the industry are rather safe from unwanted sexual advances made at them, but rookie artists from smaller companies often become easy prey to predators. Not only that but many companies keep holding on to K-pop idols who have no means of escape thanks to the slave contracts they are bound by.
In an interview released on YouTube channel Recent Olympiad (Recent Olympics), Dayul, the former member of 2015 girl group BabyBoo, revealed how she had been a victim of sexual harassment and assault during her days with the group. While BabyBoo is not that known to newer fans of K-pop, the video is now being shared on Twitter and many fans of the genre are sympathizing with the singer due to her traumatic experiences where her label failed to protect her as an artist.
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Former BabyBoo member, Dayul recalls her sexual harassment
Da-yul, who was known by her then stage name Dabin, claimed that when she was a rookie idol she complained to her label about the sexual advances that were made to her at K-pop events like festivals and music shows. She revealed how she was harassed in the past when an event official made sexual advances at her by trying to touch her inappropriately, by grabbing onto her rear (butt) as well as her thigh.
Dayul then claimed that she was forced to endure these acts of harassment and assault because when she complained about these instances, the CEO of Hyunda Company, the label that managed the activities of BabyBoo then, asked her to endure the advances in order to be invited to events or in order to bag wins on shows.
Dayul exposes other issues with the company
While this is not all, Da-yul also explained how she had to endure a lot more than just sexual harassment while being with the label. She talked about how BabyBoo members had to live in a poor housing situation where “there was no water coming out of the dorm bathrooms, there was no car, so I took the subway to and from the schedule.” It was also revealed by Da-yul how she and other BabyBoo members were kicked out of the dorm because the agency complained that the rent was too high.
Dayul revealed how BabyBoo members were never paid a penny even after performing for over 500 shows during her time with Hyunda Company. She also claimed that the girls were called the “slave girl group” in the 2019 MBC program, ‘True Story Expedition’, and stated that even though she did not like the title given to her group, there were no other words to describe their situation.
Watch Dayul's complete interview here.
'But she bullied BabyBoo member Shine'
While fans of K-pop sympathized with the singer, some also pointed out that Dayul was actually accused of bullying her group member. One fan claimed, "Another K-Pop Dark Side." Another rushed in support of Dayul, saying, "This is seriously a problem in kpop especially to those groups who are not from a big company. They always suffer from risky situations and their companies don't give af about their feelings. Imagine how many people suffered from this but can't even speak for themselves."
One fan said, "This is heartbreaking man wtf." One fan said, "OMG I hope she’d get protected after revealing all this." One user claimed that Dayul's allegations were actually false and said, "Just a side note a former trainee said that babyboo were not sexually harassed, however the abuse and bad working conditions with no pay is true, also please remember not to support dayul since she did bully babyboo member shine."
This is seriously a problem in kpop especially to those groups who are not from a big company. They always suffer from risky situations and their companies don't give af about their feelings. Imagine how many people suffered from this but can't even speak for themselves 😭💔
— proud of aespa ✨ (@kwangyapolice) March 19, 2022
just a side note a former trainee said that babyboo were not sexually harassed, however the abuse and bad working conditions with no pay is true, also please remember not to support dayul since she did bully babyboo member shine
— َ (@turnsignaI) March 19, 2022