JYP Entertainment, one of South Korea’s leading entertainment agencies, is facing a lawsuit in the U.S. over allegations of child labor exploitation, emotional and physical abuse.
On December 6, KG, a 17-year-old American member of JYP’s global girl group VCHA, filed a complaint against JYP USA with the Los Angeles County Court. JYP USA serves as the U.S. branch of JYP Entertainment.
In the lawsuit, KG claims that she sustained severe shoulder injuries, including a torn tendon, after being forced to endure intense rehearsals without proper medical treatment. She alleges that she was compelled to perform despite being in pain.
The complaint further alleges that KG was paid only $500 per week, a rate far below California’s minimum wage, while being required to work 12-hour days. The lawsuit also accuses JYP USA of controlling her personal life and monitoring her through surveillance cameras.
One of the most alarming claims in the lawsuit is that JYP failed to take appropriate action following a suicide attempt by a VCHA member. KG asserts that this negligence negatively impacted the mental health of the group’s members, with some resorting to self-harm.
A day after filing the lawsuit, KG announced her departure from VCHA and her decision to terminate her contract with JYP Entertainment via Instagram. In her statement, she expressed concern for her fellow members, saying, “I realized if I remain at JYP Entertainment, I am not able to become the artist I aspire to be.”
KG’s legal team is seeking financial compensation for the suffering she endured and demands assurances that she will be able to pursue a career as an independent artist. Her attorney, Jeremiah Graham, emphasized, “It is imperative that KG’s rights as a young artist within the entertainment sector are recognized and protected.”
At the center of the lawsuit is JYP USA’s alleged violation of California labor laws. Under state law, minors are allowed to work a maximum of 4 hours on school days and up to 8 hours on non-school days, with total weekly work hours not to exceed 48 hours. KG’s claims that she worked over 12 hours a day and could represent a significant breach of these labor laws.
In response, JYP USA announced its intention to fight the allegations in court. In a statement issued on December 9, the company said, “We deeply regret that KG has chosen to make false and exaggerated claims in the form of a lawsuit. We will take all necessary measures to protect VCHA’s other members and our company from further harm.”
JYP USA further stated, “KG left the group’s residence in May and later requested discussions through her legal guardian. During this period, we suspended VCHA’s activities to seek a resolution. This lawsuit is causing substantial damage to both VCHA’s other members, who were preparing for an album release in the first half of next year, and our company.”
VCHA debuted in January as a global girl group formed through a collaboration between JYP Entertainment and Universal Music Group’s Republic Records. The group consists of six members with diverse backgrounds: KG, Lexi, Savannah, and Kendall are American, Camila is Canadian, and Kaylee holds dual citizenship in South Korea and the United States.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
