Stars exposed to sexual harassment are causing public outrage. From colleagues in the entertainment industry to anonymous online posts, a range of sexual harassment and assault cases involving stars has come to light, causing shock. Particularly, some stars have opened up about the mental anguish they endured due to such harassment, further eliciting sympathy.
Broadcaster Sayuri recently revealed on her 'Sayuri TV' channel that she was sexually harassed by a veteran singer ten years ago, causing a significant stir. She recounted, "When I was a manager ten years ago, I did a program on MBC. After shooting all day, it was so long that I was drinking coffee in a coffee shop on the first floor. There, I ended up having coffee with an older male entertainer who was also a guest on the show. He commented on my bad skin and acne."
The conversation took a shocking turn when the man allegedly questioned her about her sexual history, linking it to her Japanese nationality and implying dishonesty. Sayuri expressed her shock and fear at the unexpected and inappropriate question. She remains angry, especially seeing the man continue to appear on TV, singing songs despite the hurtful comments he made to someone young enough to be his daughter.
However, as Sayuri's revelation became a hot topic and the public began speculating about the identity of the veteran singer, she posted a follow-up message clarifying that the individuals being mentioned by the audience were unrelated to her statement. She apologized for any confusion and discomfort caused by her remarks and edited the video to remove the mention of sexual harassment.
Singer Mina shared on E Channel and Channel S's 'Noldaun Unni' her experiences of harassment during army events, known as 'military president' events. She recounted an incident where, during a first-come-first-serve handshake event, a crowd suddenly rushed her, and one person touched her chest from behind. DJ Soda also disclosed being sexually harassed by multiple audience members while performing at a music festival in Osaka, Japan. The organizers reported some of the audience members to the police, and DJ Soda later forgave and withdrew her complaint after receiving apologies from three individuals.
Former Rainbow member Jo Hyun-young recalled being sexually harassed online during her idol activities. She was particularly upset about derogatory comments made about her weight during her 'Mach' promotions. Singer Park Jimin publicly exposed a malicious commenter who sent her sexually harassing messages, and she sternly responded to the offender before sharing the interaction online.
Girl group aespa became victims of sexual harassment when students posted derogatory comments about them online following their attendance at a high school festival. The school subsequently disciplined the students involved and conducted awareness-raising education on gender issues.
Singer Kwon Eun-bi faced sexual harassment and various rumors after attending a Water Bomb event. Her agency warned of legal action against those spreading sexual harassment, defamation, false information, and invading her privacy.
In addition to these individuals, many stars are vulnerably exposed to sexual harassment and assault. Incidents of groping through anonymous comments or posts are rampant, and explicit video recording and other acts frequently occur at offline events. There are numerous cases of sexual harassment or assault among entertainment industry colleagues, like Sayuri's.
Most overlook the fact that these acts are serious crimes that cause significant harm to the victims, often treating them as trivial or joking matters. As such, there's a growing call for stricter punishment and measures to protect entertainers from easily becoming victims of sexual harassment or assault through anonymous channels. Amidst this, support and comfort are pouring in for those who have bravely shared their experiences. It's hoped that their voices will raise awareness about sexual harassment and assault and help prevent similar incidents in the future.
