KG Alleges Abuse and Harsh Conditions in VCHA, Files Lawsuit Against JYP Entertainment

KG, a member of JYP Entertainment’s global girl group VCHA, has announced her departure from the group, alleging that a staff member of the agency abused her. In response to the accusations, JYP Entertainment has issued an official statement.

On Monday, JYP Entertainment’s U.S. division released a statement saying, “In May, KG left the group’s dormitory and requested to discuss the matter through her legal representative. In response, we temporarily suspended VCHA’s upcoming activities and have been in ongoing talks with KG’s representatives to explore various solutions.” The statement continued, “However, recently, we have not received any further responses from KG’s side regarding the discussions, and our representatives have been awaiting a reply.”

The company expressed regret over the situation, stating, “We are deeply disappointed that KG has unilaterally shared false and exaggerated information with the public and has chosen to pursue legal action.” They further noted, “This has caused significant harm to the other members of VCHA, who have been diligently preparing for their upcoming album release in the first half of 2025, as well as various other plans.”

JYP concluded, “We want to assure everyone that we will take all necessary steps to prevent further harm to the other members of VCHA and the company as a result of this situation.”

On Sunday, KG shared why she decided to leave the group on her social media. She explained that after experiencing abuse from certain staff members, she chose to terminate her contract with JYP Entertainment and leave VCHA. She also mentioned that she had filed a lawsuit the day before.

KG also expressed her concerns about the working conditions, stating, “I feel it was not a good environment for my mental health and apologize if my leave disappoints any of you. am not in support of the working and living conditions that led a member to attempt suicide. Nor do I support an environment that encourages eating disorders and has caused members to self-harm.” KG commented on the harsh realities of her experience, noting that despite the intense workload and severe restrictions on their personal lives, they had accumulated significant debt while receiving almost no salary. She added that she believes this is a deeply rooted issue in the K-pop industry.

VCHA, a global girl group formed through the A2K project—a collaboration between JYP Entertainment and Universal Music Group’s label Republic Records—debuted in January of this year. The group’s formation and debut came amidst growing interest in the international expansion of K-pop.

This controversy involving KG follows the recent contract termination announcement by NewJeans, a popular K-pop group under HYBE’s subsidiary ADOR. Both incidents highlight major Korean entertainment companies’ increasing challenges, signaling a turbulent period for the K-pop industry.