Kim Saeng Min Quits All Shows And Might Face Fine From Advertisers Due To Sexual Assault Allegation
Korean TV personality Kim Saeng Min has decided to quit all of his seven shows following a sexual assault allegation against him. Kim and his agency already issued an apology, but the TV presenter's problem doesn't end there.
Kim's agency, SM C&C, has announced that the TV star has decided to leave all of his shows after he was accused of sexual assault by a former staffer of a TV show. Apparently, the incident happened ten years ago during a staff party at a karaoke bar. Kim's accuser said she is coming forward now after learning that the TV host apologized to another girl that he had allegedly harassed, but not to her.
Kim Saeng Min is a long-time cast member of shows such as Entertainment Weekly, Kim Saeng Min's Receipts, Let's Go! Video Travel, Animal Farm, Salty Tour, Omniscient Interfering View, and Do You Want to Rest Today. A report indicates that the podcast Kim Saeng Min's Receipts is already canceled while this week's broadcast of Salty Tour has been delayed. The Salty Tour episodes that have been previously filmed will be re-edited to minimize the scenes of Kim, KPop Herald reported.
Kim Saeng Min Faces Hefty CF Fine
The TV star is expected to face a heavy fine for violating provisions of advertisement deals that he is under contract with. Normally, there are clauses in business agreements about getting involved in scandals such as the one Kim is in right now.
Kim has appeared in more than 20 commercial films. Currently, he is in 10 CFs. Due to the scandal, Kim's ads are expected to suffer from damages, too. An official of the advertising agency that is in charge of Kim's advertising said they do not have a choice but to take down all the adverts of the celebrity, Korean publication Nate wrote.
Kim Saeng Min #MeToo Scandal
The #MeeToo accusation thrown against Kim first appeared in a Dispatch article on Monday. In a letter sent to the publication, a woman, who was only identified as "A," claimed Kim forcefully dragged her into a room and forced himself on her. Kim's advances on her stopped when a senior staff member came to find her. The woman adds that Kim also sexually assaulted another staff member on the same night.
Both of the incidents were reported to the broadcasting station they were all working for at the time. However, the complaint of "A" was buried for unknown reasons, while the other woman received an apology from Kim.
"I complained saying that Kim Saeng Min must leave the program. However, the main writer said, 'There is no way for broadcasts to cut cast members because of something like this,' and said that the staff could leave, but the celebrities can't," says "A" in a letter she sent to Dispatch (via Soompi).
"A" later decided to quit her job in the TV program when she was asked away from the film set. Moreover, her projects were also given to contractual workers.
In an apology statement, Kim Saeng Min admitted that he was told about the other woman, but he was not aware of a complaint from "A." The TV host said he only found out when a Dispatch reporter asked for his side of the story.
"I am very apologetic to disappoint you with disgraceful news. 10 years ago, I took a wrong action at the party for a program I was starring in ... I know that it is far too late, but I personally met that individual and sincerely apologized with my head bowed for my embarrassing and lacking actions in the past," he said in a statement.
