Lee Joong-yeop, CEO of the agency Woollim Entertainment, is causing controversy for verbally abusing and physically assaulting Infinite member Nam Woo-hyun during an Instagram live broadcast. Photo by Nam Woo-hyun, screenshot from Instagram live broadcast.
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] Lee Jungyeop, CEO of the agency Woollim Entertainment, is causing controversy for verbally abusing and physically assaulting Infinite member Nam Woohyun during an Instagram live broadcast.
Infinite members Nam Woohyun and Kim Sunggyu held an Instagram live broadcast on the 13th to celebrate their 10th debut anniversary and spent time communicating with fans. At the time, they were outdoors drinking alcohol and eating snacks together with CEO Lee Jungyeop.
However, during the broadcast, CEO Lee was seen hitting Nam Woohyun on the head and verbally abusing him, which became problematic.
After starting the broadcast, Kim Sunggyu waved his hand at the camera to greet fans, and at that moment, CEO Lee hit Nam Woohyun’s head, who was beside him. Nam Woohyun, embarrassed, said, "Did you just see that? You hit me like that. You’re hitting me too much."
Then, CEO Lee verbally abused Nam Woohyun, saying, "Your face weighs 80kg, so stop it. Your face is the worst," and called him "this XX."
Nam Woohyun asked, "Please don’t swear," but CEO Lee replied, "What’s wrong with calling you this XX? Aren’t you my child?"
Nam Woohyun responded, "I’m not your XX, sir. I also have parents," and Kim Sunggyu quickly ended the situation by saying, "Sir, you might regret this tomorrow. Please be careful."
Netizens who saw the broadcast criticized the agency CEO for verbally abusing and assaulting an entertainer during a live broadcast watched by many fans, saying it was inappropriate despite being a personal broadcast.
Additionally, some pointed out that it was reckless for a public figure to drink alcohol and do a live broadcast amid the spread of the novel coronavirus infection.
Meanwhile, the group Infinite debuted in 2010 through Woollim Entertainment, led by CEO Lee Jungyeop, and has been active for 10 years.
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