Roughly a year after the incident, A went public on social media. In July 2023, Jinjo Crew filed a 500 million won civil suit against A and several members of the crew, claiming the disclosure led to canceled shows. Separately, Jinjo Crew head Kim Heon-jun was fined 1 million won for allegedly defaming male member B online ― a teammate who had rushed to help A immediately after the incident. Kim has contested the fine, and a formal trial is underway.
In an exclusive interview with SBS Entertainment News, A said, “I was just someone who wanted to dance with the best crew in the world. But everything that followed felt like another form of violence.”
A joined Jinjo Crew through an audition and handled marketing while training and performing. “I wanted to grow with the No. 1 team,” A recalled, adding that she “devoted everything to the crew” despite earning less than 1 million won a month.
In the early hours of Feb. 6, 2022, during a marketing team gathering, A says she fell asleep and awoke to the team’s marketing lead (dancer C) attempting to sexually assault her and illegally film her. “I fought him off, ran to the bathroom and called a colleague. I was terrified,” A said. B, a male team member, arrived immediately and protected A.
At the time, Jinjo Crew was in production for JTBC’s competition series "Showdown." A said fear that “speaking up would sink the team” kept her silent. Jinjo Crew stayed on the show and, three months later, won the title ― ushering in a hot streak that continued well after. “With the ‘world No. 1’ label and the crew’s power dynamics, taking this outside felt impossible,” A said.
Even after informing the crew internally, A says little changed. A recalls a meeting where Kim’s remarks left a deep wound. “He said, ‘At least in our team we don’t have #MeToo scandals or members sleeping around with each other. In other crews, this guy sleeps with that girl and that girl sleeps with another. The perpetrator and I were both in the room, and I was the only woman there. I felt humiliated,” A said.
After the incident, A struggled with panic and anxiety, attempted suicide, and made multiple ER visits. “I wanted to die, but I thought I had to protect the team,” A said, explaining why she initially held off on pressing charges. When a national team tryout slipped away, A left the crew and, a year and six months after the incident, filed a criminal complaint in August 2023 at her parents’ urging.
Former member C was indicted on charges of attempted rape of an incapacitated victim and illegal filming sentenced to five years in prison; on appeal, the term was reduced to two years and six months after the court took into account a 30 million won deposit.
During this period, Jinjo Crew sued A and several crew members for more than 500 million won in damages, arguing that A’s disclosure caused financial harm, including show cancellations. In July, the Seoul Eastern District Court’s Civil Division 14 dismissed the claim, finding A’s post was not proven false and that damages were not established. Jinjo Crew did not appeal, making the ruling final.
“I was sexually assaulted ― and then I was the one sued,” A said. “I’m relieved the case was dismissed, but the lawsuit itself felt like an attempt to scare me into silence. Throughout the proceedings, I felt more like a defendant than a victim. Kim Heon-jun apologized to the public, but never once to me. I want them to acknowledge that their ‘team sabotage’ narrative wasn’t true ― and apologize to me directly. I hope the truth is known so there are no more secondary harms like mine.”
In response, Jinjo Crew told SBS Entertainment News: “After the ruling, we were advised it would be inappropriate to contact the victim individually, so we didn’t. We want to meet and apologize in person and will make that happen soon. With time, we recognize how difficult this must have been from the victim’s perspective. We regret not handling things with more care and are truly sorry.”
Addressing the allegation of inappropriate remarks during a meeting, Kim acknowledged making comments but said, “They were not directed at the victim at all. I casually passed along, off the record, something about other teams. In hindsight, I can see how the victim could have heard it differently. It won’t happen again.”
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)