VCHA’s KG Sues JYP Entertainment— Hidden Cameras, Abuse, and Mistreatment Alleged
For the past few months, many VCHA fans have been wondering why the group has been on hiatus for so long.
It appears we now have an answer.
On December 7, VCHA member KG announced on social media that she would be terminating her contract with JYP Entertainment and suing the company for mistreatment and abuse.
KG stated that she experienced mistreatment and abuse by certain staff members and could no longer endure an environment that promotes eating disorders and living conditions that have led to members’ self-harm. She also revealed that one member attempted to take their own life. The 77-page lawsuit alleges that the member ingested 42 NyQuil pills in a suicide attempt.
The lawsuit also revealed the shocking discovery of hidden cameras in the group’s residence. These cameras, placed in areas like the dining room and pantry, monitored the members’ private conversations and eating habits. KG only learned about their existence months after they were installed, when a surveillance sticker was found on the pantry ceiling. This covert surveillance left the members feeling violated and added to the already oppressive environment they were forced to endure. According to KG, the constant monitoring served to enforce strict and unhealthy behaviors, such as controlling their eating and movement within the house, further worsening their emotional distress.
“I made this decision back in May and am still waiting for my release from the contract,” KG wrote. “I am deeply worried for the girls who remain in VCHA, my friends, whom I love and care for deeply. I’ve also realized that remaining at JYP Entertainment prevents me from becoming the artist I aspire to be. I love songwriting and production, yet I am burdened with massive company debt while being paid very little for the intense work and extreme limitations on my personal life. Despite these incidents, there were also beautiful moments.
“I’d like to thank J.Y. Park, company executives, and staff for believing in me and for the exceptional training. I do not blame anyone specifically for the treatment endured but believe this is an issue deeply embedded in the K-pop industry. I am grateful for the friendships I’ve made and the incredible opportunity to perform for a global audience. Thank you, V-lights, for your unwavering love and support. Please continue to support VCHA even in my absence.
“I’ve grown to love Korean culture and K-pop music. I will continue creating music in this genre but not under these circumstances. I hope my departure inspires changes to better protect idols and trainees within the K-pop system.”
KG concluded by thanking JYPE for the opportunity and urging fans to support the remaining members of VCHA.
This is a brief summary of the 77-page document.
- On September 14, 2023, a JYPE dance teacher forced K.M. to repeat a strenuous move
hundreds of times, causing a torn shoulder tendon. Despite her exhaustion, the teacher
denied her water, allowing others to drink, and insisted she could only hydrate after
mastering the move. This reflects severe abuse and violations of California laws and
norms. - JYPE imposed strict control over K.M.’s life, from the early morning hours spent in
school to the long, grueling rehearsals that stretched close to midnight. K.M.’s personal
freedom, artistic growth, and even physical safety were sacrificed for JYPE’s commercial
interests, and the tricky terms of the contract ensured that she was not compensated for
her efforts. - JYPE pressured K.M. to live in a group home, saying it was important for the group’s
success, even though the contract claimed it was optional. She was afraid of the
consequences if she refused and agreed to live there. JYPE chose an expensive $2.5
million house without her input and later claimed K.M. owed them $500,000 for it.
Instead of paying her for her hard work, they took money from her earnings to cover
these costs, forcing her to work for free while JYPE used the fancy lifestyle to attract
more fans and make more money. - K.M.’s daily schedule was relentless, starting at 7:00 a.m. with three hours of school
before rushing to JYPE’s practice building by 10:30 a.m. for training that officially ended
at 7:00 p.m. but often stretched until midnight or later. JYPE staff pressured her to stay
as late as 1-2:00 a.m., warning of “disappointment” or “consequences” if she left early.
Despite this grueling routine, which allowed her little sleep or free time, K.M. received no
pay for any work she performed after 6:30 p.m - K.M. said the only time they felt free was during midnight walks or short moments in their
hotel room, even though it meant losing sleep. She remembered one time when another
member, having a panic attack, asked the staff if she could take a break and get some
air. The staff said no and told her she was being “disrespectful” and would face
“consequences” for asking. - Over six months, JYPE paid K.M. only $500 per week, far below the California minimum
wage for the 12+ hour workdays she had to endure. On top of this underpayment, JYPE
placed a heavy financial burden on her by charging her $500,000 for “company
expenses,” a massive debt for a minor. - K.M. and her groupmates were denied proper meals as part of JYPE’s policy to maintain
extreme thinness. They were told they would “regret how [they] looked” if they didn’t lose
weight. Meals were limited, and they were often encouraged not to eat or rest. On one
occasion, after missing lunch, K.M. had to attend a four-hour rehearsal without food. A
staff member also told the girls, “Don’t eat!” as he shut the car door after training. - On September 14, 2023, K.M. was forced to repeat a dance move hundreds of times
while holding a squat. Despite being in pain, she was denied a water break. This caused
her to tear a tendon in her shoulder, but she was forced to continue working without
proper recovery time and expected to return to full training after receiving hospital
treatment. - Throughout her time at JYPE, K.M. and other VCHA members were forced to dance and
perform despite severe injuries like sprained ankles and muscle strains. Even though
K.M.’s doctor advised rest for her leg injury, JYPE ignored this and insisted she keep
performing. When she asked to “take it easy,” staff refused. K.M. received multiple
injections but was still made to work twelve hours a day. A text conversation from
November 27, 2023, shows how JYPE responded to medical advice, confirming their
disregard for her injuries.
- On another occasion, K.M. had a virus and laryngitis while she was expected to sing.
Despite being sick, she tried her best, but JYPE staff scolded her, saying she was
disrespecting the company and not taking care of herself. They told her it was her
responsibility not to get sick. - Figures 2 and 3 below show an accurate conversation between K.M. and another
member of VCHA from May 17, 2024, discussing the emotional toll of working for JYPE.
K.M.’s messages are in yellow bubbles, while the other member’s responses are in
charcoal bubbles, with their identity redacted.
- K.M. and her underage groupmates faced intense mental and emotional pressure, with
some resorting to self-harm. K.M. witnessed another member develop an eating
disorder, which led to a suicide attempt in February 2024. After ingesting 42 Nyquil pills,
the member began vomiting uncontrollably, and K.M. discovered it. Although K.M. and
others had raised concerns with JYPE, staff dismissed them, saying eating disorders
were common. JYPE also concealed the suicide attempt, instructing the girls to lie about
it. Erik Winston later admitted that he was misinformed and told the member’s condition
was food poisoning.
JYPE’s neglect of the group’s mental health violated child welfare
standards. K.M. herself endured verbal and emotional abuse, including being publicly
humiliated on her birthday during a rehearsal when a dance instructor called her a
“terrible dancer” in front of her groupmates, causing one girl to cry. This type of abuse
was meant to push K.M. to work harder. - JYPE constantly surveilled K.M. and her groupmates. Hidden cameras, including one in
the dining area with an 8 Megapixel camera and a 120-degree wide-angle lens, recorded
their private conversations and meals without their knowledge or consent. A surveillance
sticker found in the pantry revealed their eating habits were monitored 24/7. K.M. only
discovered the cameras months later, which made her feel even more trapped,
controlled, and powerless. - By April 2024, JYPE claimed that K.M.’s work had resulted in an accumulated net
income of about minus $504,543, meaning she received no share of the profits from her
hard work and was instead told she owed them money. Despite JYPE reporting profits
during this time, their unclear accounting made it impossible for K.M. to determine what
she was actually owed.
K.M. and her group, VCHA, were featured in major media outlets
like Dazed Magazine, Teen Vogue, and Rolling Stone, and performed at large venues
like Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and Foro Sol Stadium in Mexico City. These
appearances and performances, which contributed to JYPE’s profits, were not included
in K.M.’s compensation calculations. JYPE continued to profit from K.M.’s name and
likeness without properly compensating her, while falsely claiming she owed them
money.
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