A former member of K-Pop girl group After School has opened up about her sexual harassment experience involving the CEO of an entertainment label.
Yoo So-young shared the grim details of her past in SBS’ “Heard It Through the Grapevine,” where the topic of sexual harassment was brought up.
According to the idol-turned-actress, it happened when she had dinner with a label she was supposed to work with.
Yoo revealed in the discussion (via allkpop):
“I want to say that this happens all the time. We all went drinking and I was about to go home, and the CEO said he would take me home. I was the only woman, and when we got into the taxi, he held my hand. I knew right then that I had to be alert.”
She went on to share that the CEO would not let her go until she surrendered:
“I tried to send the CEO away after getting out of the taxi, but he got off after me and said he wanted to talk to me. It was late at night and nothing was open, and I was scared, so we went to a fast food place that was open 24 hours.
“He held my hand and said, ‘I like you and see you as a woman. I’m not going to let you go until you say okay.’ I told him, ‘I’m sorry but I don’t see it like that. Please cancel my contract as well.’”
After the incident, the CEO claimed not remembering anything and terminated her contract four days later, Yoo said.
Yoo was one of the original five members of Pledis Entertainment’s After School who debuted in 2009. She “graduated” from the group in October of the same year to pursue an acting career.
Her latest work is a film titled “Beastie Girls,” which tackles the “life in the celebrity and prostitution world”.
We’re glad Yoo feels safe enough to come forward and shre her experience and that she is doing well these days! You can follow her on Instagram.
Feature Image via YouTube / KP Channel
