Girl group's agency to take legal action against ex-member over ostracism allegations

Lee Hyun-joo, former member of K-pop girl group April / DSP Media

By Dong Sun-hwa

DSP Media, the management agency of K-pop girl group April, said it will take legal action against Lee Hyun-joo, an actress and former group member, for making allegations that she had been ostracized by her ex-colleagues.

A person claiming to be Lee's brother accused April's members on Sunday of ostracizing his sister. He also insisted that Lee suffered panic attacks due to the abuse and had no choice but to leave the group in 2016.

The agency, which also represents Lee, said Wednesday that it failed to reach a compromise with her on the issue.

“We have reached a point where we cannot keep our conversation going with Lee and her family,” DSP said in a statement. “We talked with Lee and her mother twice, but she kept saying she was a victim and asked us to release a one-sided, untruthful public statement. A person who claimed to be her brother posted another accusation online earlier today, too."

The agency said it was no longer able to protect both parties.

“From this point on, we will take stringent legal action against Lee and anyone who spreads such allegations online.”

K-pop act April / Courtesy of DSP Media

The statement came a few hours after her “brother” raised accusations against April members for the second time.

“My sister suffered from health problems due to the bullying and even attempted suicide,” he wrote. “That's why she could not participate in all of April's musical activities, not because she was unfaithful to her group.” He shared the singer's hospital document as evidence.

He made the first accusation on Feb. 28, saying, “It is not true that my sister quit to forge an acting career ― she was ostracized by other April members.”

DSP denied the allegations on March 1, saying the situation was more complicated than told and it was difficult to tell who the real victim was.

Lee debuted as part of April in 2015 with the mini-album "Dreaming." One year later, she put a hold on her activities due to her “health condition” and officially left the band in October.

She made her acting debut in the same year with OCN's "Momin's Room" and has appeared on web-series including "The Witch Shop" (2019). In 2017, she was featured in KBS's K-pop audition program “The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project” and joined the project group UNI.T as one of the finalists.

April, comprising Lee Na-eun, Lee Jin-sol, Kim Chae-won, and Yang Ye-na, welcomed two new members ― Rachel and Yoon Chae-kyung ― after Hyunjoo's departure. It has had a series of hits including popular "LALALILALA" (2020).