A former member of VCHA KG (Kiera Grace Madder) has publicly shared a 132-page court document containing explosive allegations against JYP Entertainment. It included harrowing claims that members were forced to work through injuries, subjected to excessive control, and made to endure grueling schedules.
In early December 2024, the 17-year-old K-pop star left VCHA and sued JYP Entertainment, citing neglect and abuse by staff members and a toxic environment that drove her to leave the group.
At the time, she disclosed that their weekly allowance from JYP was $500, and they resided in a $500,000 home, which increased their trainee debt. Another bombshell revelation was that another VCHA member developed an eating disorder and tried to take her own life.
Key Allegations in the Court Documents
On May 1 (KST), the court document detailing disturbing working conditions allegedly faced by VCHA members was shared by KG, including:
Ignored Injuries
Members, including KG, were reportedly denied proper medical attention despite visible injuries. The management insisted they continue performances and rehearsals.
In mid-September 2023, while I was training in South Korea, several members of VCHA—including me—sustained injuries. My teammate [REDACTED] hurt her hip/back,
[REDACTED] sprained her ankle, and I tore a tendon in my shoulder. My shoulder injury occurred on September 14, when Dance Teacher B.M. (on information and belief, “Bomin Lee”) made me repeat a single move hundreds of times without rest. This is the incident described in my complaint, where I was even denied water (not surprising that I was ultimately injured). Although the pain was severe, I was not taken to receive medical care until September 16, two days after the injury, along with my two teammates. We all ended up getting injections at a local medical center because of those injuries. I do not know what I was injected with.
KG
Despite her existing injury, JYPE allegedly required her to perform at their headquarters on September 18, 2023. KG sustained a leg injury in November 2023 and underwent multiple medical treatments, including injections.
Medical professionals diagnosed muscle damage from overuse and explicitly recommended rest and cessation of dance activities for recovery. Contrary to medical advice, JYPE staff allegedly demanded full-intensity performances despite KG’s request “ to adjust schedules. She recorded her dancing on November 24, 2023 (Exhibit I), one day after the injury occurred.
60+ Work Hours a Week
Schedules allegedly included 60+ hours a week with minimal breaks. KG faced criticism for being “lazy” and was pushed to train intensively like traditional Korean trainees.
We were often pressured to stay late out of fear we would be seen as lazy or uncommitted. My teammate [REDACTED] was typically told to decide how long VCHA would rehearse each day, then inform the staff of our departure time.
In November 2023, I felt immense pressure to spend additional hours training. The staff had told me that I needed to train like Korean trainees, who stayed until after 1:00 a.m., and when I expressed a willingness to do that, they agreed, and I ended up working until 11:00 p.m. (after starting work at 10:30 a.m.).
Then, on November 28, 2023, I got a text from [REDACTED] saying the staff made it seem like the rest of the group was “lazy” if they left earlier than I did. This put heavy pressure on everyone to stick around just as long, even if it meant violating proper work-hour limits
The schedule for that week was 10, 9, 9, 8, 9, 9, (end times, P.M.), with start times of 10:30 a.m., meaning we (the group) worked 11 hours on Monday, 10 hours on Tuesday, 10 hours on Wednesday, 9 hours on Thursday, 10 hours on Friday (50 hours so far, if you’re counting), and then more hours on Saturday.
KG
Forced to Eat Only Salads
Despite having a grueling schedule and prolonged dance practices, JYP staff forced KG and VCHA members to eat only salads.
While in Korea, JYPE pressured all of us in VCHA to eat only salads. They claimed it was optional, but it was very clear the staff would be upset if we didn’t comply. We tried sticking to it, but it was impossible to maintain on our long schedules with so little nutrition.
At the same time, JYPE also told us we couldn’t eat at our hotel at all—we had to eat only what the company provided. When they found out we weren’t sticking to salads, the staff’s displeasure was obvious.
My teammates and I discussed the salad diet in our group chat, talking about how difficult it was to dance for hours on end while barely eating.
KG
Emotional Manipulation
KG and other members were subjected to emotional manipulation by JYP Entertainment. Other VCHA members were also concerned and exhausted from the mistreatment and abuse.
I was not the only VCHA member concerned by all of this, another VCHA member,[REDACTED], prepared a statement for JYPE to discuss how we were being treated, generally, and described JYPE’s contradicting statements, including contrasting the statement: “you should be staying till 12/1” with a direction to “make sure to always get rest…” as an example of a contradiction.
In September 2023, a translator named [REDACTED] privately messaged the group. She mentioned that JYPE might be withholding affection from us intentionally, so we wouldn’t become “spoiled” before debut. This confirmed our suspicions that the company’s cold treatment was intentional.
KG
KG also revealed that JYP Entertainment constantly monitored their LA home and required them to tell the staff what they would do in their free time.
Psychological Pressure
KG shared that the demanding workload, constant surveillance, and neglect negatively impacted her mental health, as well as that of other members.
As a direct result of the mistreatment, surveillance, forced labor, and control described above, my mental health –– and the mental health of my teammates –– deteriorated significantly during our time under JYPE’s supervision. In this section, I explain how that harm manifested, including the severe emotional toll, missed schooling, and lasting trauma we experienced.
In October 2023, I noticed that my teammate [REDACTED] was showing signs of an eating disorder and possibly self-harm, including binge eating, vomiting, and rumors that she was burning herself with a lighter. It alarmed the rest of us. She ultimately attempted suicide, as described in my complaint. I have a lot of evidence and conversations concerning this, but for the sake of her privacy, I do not want to add these to this declaration at this time, because they could reveal details about which member attempted suicide. At an evidentiary hearing, I would be able to show this evidence to the Court.
KG
Meanwhile, KG continues to update fans about the legal proceedings through her personal Instagram, KG Crown.
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