According to Dispatch, the incident occurred during a corporate dinner held in June 2025 at a restaurant in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. The CEO of Next Kitchen, identified as Jung, who is also the husband of Kurly CEO Kim Seul-a, allegedly moved his seat next to the female employee, referred to as A, and repeatedly made unwanted physical contact, including touching her arms, shoulders, back and waist, whispering remarks such as “I like” in his ear.
Despite A’s visible discomfort and the presence of other employees, Jung allegedly continued the behavior, using A’s probationary rating as leverage and implying that his full-time employment depended on his decision. Messages exchanged between A and a colleague during dinner indicate that multiple witnesses noticed this and were upset by the situation.
A described the incident as a prolonged ordeal, saying: “It was a 100 minute nightmare” and explained that at that moment he felt unable to resist. “He is the husband of Kurly’s CEO and the absolute authority in that company,” he said, adding that he was undergoing a probationary evaluation and feared repercussions.
The text messages exchanged in real time between A and a colleague present at the dinner suggest that others also witnessed the accident. A colleague reportedly wrote: “Why does he whisper like that? It’s disgusting,” while A replied, “I’m not the only one who felt that, right? He even grabbed my hand and pretended it was a handshake.”
After the matter spread internally, Jung reportedly summoned A to a meeting room and apologized, saying: “I did something crazy. I have no excuses. I’m very sorry.” However, he later attempted to downplay the incident, explaining that it was related to alcohol and cultural misunderstandings. He reportedly said: “I think I have become too Westernized in the way I view physical contact when I drink.”
A said no formal disciplinary action was taken against Jung and that he continued to work despite having emotional difficulties. “I started avoiding people’s eyes at work. Even though I was the victim, going to the office became scary.” he said. Over time, she was diagnosed with moderate depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and eventually decided to quit.
He subsequently filed a criminal complaint, stating: “This lawsuit aims to both hold him accountable and recover myself.” Prosecutors acknowledged the validity of the sexual assault charges and charged Jung without prison. His legal representative confirmed the accusation, saying: “It is true that he has been indicted, but we cannot comment further because the trial is ongoing.”
Next Kitchen is structurally dependent on Kurly, which holds a 46.41% stake and accounts for nearly all of the company’s revenue. Despite this, Kurly has not issued a public response. Dispatch reported that CEO Kim Seul-a did not respond to the victim’s formal notice. The case has sparked criticism over workplace safety, executive accountability and the handling of allegations of sexual misconduct at companies closely linked to powerful corporate figures.
Sources: Nate News
