Korean Media News

“The government will kick out CEOs and staff members who disgrace the entertainment community with shameless crimes.”

This is the determination that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism revealed to eradicate sex crimes rampant in the entertainment industry in a press conference Wednesday.

In this connection, the ministry said that the government will seek legislations on prevention of sex arrangement in the entertainment industry this year.

The move has come as a chief executive officer of an entertainment management agency was arrested last month for having sexually assaulted 11 girls who were training as singers or actress at the agency. The CEO is a Chang of Open World Entertainment.

“There is no system that protects trainees at an agency or star-wannabes from swindlers or brutal owners who ask sex.” said Kim Gap-su, director-general in charge of Cultural Content Industry Office at the ministry. “Of course, 'hallyu', or Korean wave, contributed to boosting the national brand power but illegal acts or frauds targeting young star-wannabes in the pop-culture industry have to be rooted out immediately.”

The ministry will look into all entertainment agencies to check whether they are involved in unfair practices against trainees in collaboration with Korea Entertainment Producers' Association and the Korea Entertainment Management Association.

The two private organizations will also form task forces to cooperate with the government. The task forces will collect basic information on music video makers and training management agencies, such as what kinds of businesses they are doing, how many trainees and entertainers they have.