An investigation is underway into a French brand employee who leaked private photos of SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu from a recent campaign shoot. The unauthorized release of these images has sparked significant backlash.

Incident Details

On September 10, 2024, Korea JoonAng Daily reported that the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul has launched an investigation into a L’Occitane Korea employee identified as Ms. A. The investigation focuses on a breach of the Special Act on the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes, which deals with unauthorized filming and distribution of private content.

Unauthorized Photo Leak

The issue began when Ms. A posted several private photos of Mingyu on her Instagram account. The caption read:

“Mingyu took up the most space in my album…I couldn’t erase them because I was anxious. I guess I will take care of it now.”

The leaked photos, taken during a commercial shoot, included some that exposed Mingyu’s shirtless body, which aggravated fans and led to a significant online reaction.

Response from Fans and Brand

Upon discovering the leak, SEVENTEEN‘s fans, known as CARATs, quickly acted to protect Mingyu. They blurred the exposed areas of the photos and urged PLEDIS Entertainment, SEVENTEEN’s agency, to address the situation promptly.

In response, L’Occitane Korea took immediate action by suspending Ms. A from her duties. The brand also issued a public apology, stating:

“We sincerely apologize for the recent incident involving the unauthorized release of photos from the L’Occitane Asia Ambassador campaign, which were improperly distributed on the personal social media account of one of our employees. We acknowledge that there is no excuse for this breach and fully accept responsibility for what has occurred.”

Legal Actions

Following the incident, a netizen reported having filed a complaint online, stating:

“It is clear that the employee was aware that the photos could trigger inappropriate desires or cause embarrassment.”

The netizen has called for severe punishment for Ms. A, highlighting the seriousness of the breach.

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