The prosecution concluded two years of legal disputes due to insufficient evidence.
Hwichan is currently serving as a social service worker, with enlistment ending in 2026.
Hwichan, a member of OMEGA X, has been cleared of sexual assault charges previously filed by the head of his former agency. The prosecution reached a decision of 'no charges' after two years of legal disputes, citing insufficient evidence.
The agency, IPQ, released an official statement on the 17th, confirming that the prosecution issued a non-indictment ruling on December 11 of last year due to a lack of objective and credible evidence. The issue began in March 2023 when Hwichan was accused of sexual assault during a press conference by his former agency, Spire Entertainment, which presented edited CCTV footage as evidence. However, Hwichan's side argued that there were only pressured affectionate expressions involved.
From the beginning, Hwichan's team demanded the submission of the complete original CCTV footage, but it was never submitted or verified during the police and prosecution investigation processes. Ultimately, after approximately 1 year and 10 months of investigation, the prosecution concluded the case with a 'no charges' decision. IPQ emphasized that the investigation confirmed Hwichan did not commit any criminal acts while also highlighting the social stigma and psychological distress he endured. In contrast, the complainant, A, has announced intentions to pursue further legal actions following the non-indictment decision.
This incident has significantly impacted the image of OMEGA X and Hwichan. The prosecution's final conclusion confirming his innocence provides a great relief for both the agency and fans. However, such cases highlight various issues faced by artists within the K-POP industry, emphasizing the need for trust in handling criminal cases in the future.
Hwichan is currently serving as a social service worker, so the legal resolution of this case is expected to alleviate the psychological pressure he has been under during his service. Additionally, this could become an opportunity for Hwichan to reestablish his relationship with fans upon return. Given that fans have supported him through this ordeal, they may look forward to a positive outlook post-return.
Lastly, this incident serves as a reminder of the needed changes and the importance of artist protection within the K-POP industry, indicating that better responses and systems are required should similar incidents occur in the future.
This article is KOSTAR’s reinterpretation of a story originally reported by TVDaily.
Photo: TVDaily
