Full Allegations of VCHA’s KG against JYP: Severe Abuse, Suicide Attempt, 500.000 USD Debt

Among the K-pop entertainment agencies, JYP Entertainment is reputed as the company that treats its artists the best. However, on December 8, the company unexpectedly faced a lawsuit from female idol KG (formerly of VCHA), who also announced her departure from the group.

VCHA is a girl group based in the United States which debuted in early 2024 under JYP, via the reality show “A2K”. The girl group has been without activities for a long time, arousing concerns from fans, and now, former member KG has somewhat revealed the truth behind such absence. 

In particular, KG filed a lawsuit against JYP, accusing the company of abuse, saddling her with a 500,000 USD debt, and alleged that the girl group suffered from inhumane treatment that to the suicide attempt of one member.

Below is a recap of all allegations made by KG, as revealed in a 77-paged document pertaining to her lawsuit: 

Inhumane schedule

In her lawsuit, KG revealed that her daily schedule began at 7 AM. She attended school for three hours before returning to the JYP USA building at 10:30 AM, where she worked and trained for hours on end. KG often worked past 11 PM, but company staff pressured her to stay until 1–2 AM. 

They manipulated her by expressing disappointment and warning of consequences if she left early. The 2007-born idol stated that her only free time was her sleeping hours.

Suspicious contract and 500,000 USD Debt  

KG accused JYP Entertainment of exploiting loopholes in California law by categorizing the group as “trainees” to reduce their rights and income. VCHA’s contract included many terms in Korean, which were not thoroughly explained to the group.  

Due to this legal maneuver, KG was paid only 500 USD per week. The company justified this by deducting from VCHA’s trainee debt, which totaled over 500,000 USD per member. JYP imposed fixed costs without giving members a choice, such as purchasing a 2.5 million USD house where the group was required to live, adding this expense to their debt.  

Although VCHA performed frequently, even opening for TWICE’s U.S. tour, they were not adequately compensated. The company claimed that KG was not generating income and still owed 504,503 USD after net profits were accounted for.  

Diet and Surveillance  

VCHA was forced to maintain extreme thinness, often being given only small portions of salad. Members were repeatedly prohibited from eating by JYP staff. This monitoring extended to their residence, where surveillance cameras were installed to track their eating habits, without the group’s knowledge, despite JYP initially promising not to install cameras. The group was also required to provide detailed reports of their activities on weekly rest days, including where they went, what they did, and with whom.  

Health issues  

During a dance practice, KG was scolded for making mistakes and forced to repeat a move hundreds of times without being allowed to drink water. This led to a shoulder tendon injury. Despite a doctor’s orders for her to rest, staff continued to pressure her to practice.  

Other members suffered injuries, such as ankle sprains, but were still required to train for 12 hours a day under staff supervision. KG also developed laryngitis but was reprimanded, with staff claiming it was her responsibility to avoid getting sick.  

Mental and emotional struggles  

The company’s treatment caused significant mental distress for VCHA members. KG disclosed in her lawsuit that one member began self-harming, while another developed severe eating disorders and attempted suicide by ingesting drugs. Fortunately, this member was found in time. However, JYP fabricated a cover story to explain the member’s absence and forced the group to lie about it.  

Abuse and verbal Harassment  

KG asserted that VCHA was frequently subjected to verbal abuse by staff, allegedly to push them to train harder. On one occasion, a dance instructor scolded KG in front of the group, causing another member to break down in tears and leave the room. KG stated she had stopped working with the group since May and was awaiting contract termination with JYP Entertainment.  

JYP’s response  

In a statement to media outlet StarNews, a JYP Entertainment representative said that they have not yet received an official lawsuit from KG and are verifying the details.

The representative also described the matter as a difference in perspective, noting that JYP had previously discussed the issues with KG’s representatives and would proceed according to legal protocols.  

Source: K14, Trellis Law