Nah Sang Hyun denies sexual harassment allegations, retracts earlier apology
Nah Sang Hyun of indie rock group Mr. Nah Band broke his silence on August 1, firmly denying the sexual harassment claims made against him earlier this year.
The controversy erupted in May, with an accusation that Nah sexually harassed a woman by touching her thighs while pretending to be drunk at a gathering. Initial investigations found no concrete evidence, but Nah issued a public apology, which swayed public opinion against him.
On June 2, Nah reversed course through his agency, stating his apology was made out of moral responsibility before confirming facts, and denied the accusations.
Now, Nah has posted a detailed statement on his blog explaining why he apologized initially and why he has since rejected the claims.
Nah Sang Hyun said:
“When I first saw the allegations, they were clearly not in line with what I know to be true. However, I was overwhelmed by the situation growing rapidly and felt anxious about whether there might have been something I was unaware of. Believing that in matters like this, it’s important to listen closely to the voice of the accuser, I thought the most appropriate response at the time—before verifying the facts—was to take a stance of apology.”
He went on to clarify:
“Later, after carefully reviewing the past events with my agency and thoroughly checking the truth of the matter, we concluded that the allegations were not true. However, by then, many people had already accepted the claims as fact, and I was afraid that speaking out prematurely might lead to further misunderstandings and criticism. I deeply apologize for the long silence and to those who were hurt during that time.”
Nah apologized again for his “inadequate response” and expressed hope for healing.
“There were moments when I felt like I would never be able to face the public again. I struggled with whether it was right to continue confining myself over something I didn’t do. Resuming activities is emotionally difficult for me as well, but I believed it was wrong to let misunderstandings become accepted truth and for everything to end that way… I sincerely apologize for the confusion and hurt caused by my inadequate response, and I truly hope that one day we can meet again with warm hearts.”
Nah Sang Hyun’s latest statement aims to clear his name as he plans to resume his activities amid ongoing controversy.
