Popular Male Star Admits To Sexual Misconduct Then Abruptly Denies It
Na Sanghyun, the 30-year-old vocalist of indie group Band Nah, is facing growing public scrutiny after first admitting to sexual misconduct allegations, only to reverse his statement days later.
The controversy began when a post surfaced online alleging that Na had sexually harassed a woman during a private drinking gathering.
At a drinking party, he pretended the woman next to him was drunk and touched her thigh. If she seemed drunk, he left his hand there, but if she wasn’t and reacted, he acted startled and said it was a mistake. I’m writing based on what I experienced and what I heard. I’m being vague because I’m afraid it’ll reveal identities. Sorry. Since it happened in private, there’s no evidence.
— Anonymous post
Shortly after the post went viral, Na Sanghyun released a statement via social media on May 23, seemingly acknowledging the accusations and apologizing for his actions.
— 나상현 (@nasang23) May 22, 2025
I am sorry for hurting the person in a situation where I cannot remember the specific circumstances due to drinking. I know it’s late, but I would like to apologize now personally. If it is ok, please send me a private message. Please refrain from causing secondary harm to the person.
About 3-4 years ago, after people pointed out my drunken behavior, I deeply reflected on it with the help of those around me and tried to improve the problem.
I will reflect more deeply and work hard to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. I once again apologize to the person whom I hurt.
My heart feels even heavier about acting in a way that does not align with the values I have always thought about and spoken of. I will set clearer standards and work harder to protect the values I have held important through my actions. I once again apologize for this.
— Na Sanghyun
The aftermath was swift. Na stepped down from his regular spot on Wendy’s Young Street and was absent from the 17th Seoul Jazz Festival. His team also announced that he would not be attending this year’s Pentaport Rock Festival.
However, on June 2, Na’s agency, January Music, issued a new statement walking back the previous admission, claiming the situation had been misunderstood.
Right after the allegations went public, the artist released a statement based on moral responsibility without the facts being fully verified.
After thoroughly reviewing the situation with the artist, we have confirmed that the behavior described in the post is not true.
The timeline mentioned by the artist referred to a period when he was drinking more than usual and was working on improving his lifestyle habits. We only realized after the statement was released that this wording could be misinterpreted as an admission of guilt. We deeply apologize for causing confusion by attempting to express remorse without providing sufficient explanation, which led to a misunderstanding of the facts.
— Na Sanghyun
January Music has stated that they are in the process of hiring legal counsel and preparing a formal response. As the situation continues to unfold, the public remains focused on whether the original claims will be substantiated or legally challenged.
