“I only said what the agency company told me to…They told me ‘not to disclose that C and I were in a relationship” Haein Lee, the truth about sexual harassment
Haein Lee about accusations of sexual harassment.
original source: dispatch.co.kr dd. 9th August 2024
In a conversation with Dispatch, Korean Haein Lee showed the correspondence between her and skater C, showing they were in a relationships. Here’s a translation.
On June 21st, the skating federation concluded that Lee Haein’s actions constituted ‘sexual harassment’. Subsequently, they imposed a three-year suspension, which included behavior of drinking during training periods. The accuser was C, a minor and fellow figure skater (17).
She showed their text messages from that day:
“Haein Le: I’m… just confused right now. That mark (kiss), didn’t you ask me to do it? I said no, but you kept insisting it was okay, right?
Skater C: Um… but… you do believe me, right?
Haein Le: Do you feel sorry towards me?
Skater C: Um… before that, can I ask you one thing… you’re not going to betray me, right?
What was the decisive background for the federation to decide it was sexual harassment? The Fair Play Committee stated that “physical body contact was made, causing the other party to feel sexual humiliation. This is precisely why Haein Lee retorted, “Are you saying I did that (forcibly)?” If it weren’t for C’s statements, the accusation of sexual harassment wouldn’t have arisen. After all, the two were in a relationship.
Again, a conversation from June 21st:
“Haein Lee: Do you want this incident to end as sexual harassment?
Skater C: No….
Haein Lee: With the articles out like that, you still care about me?
Skater C: If you believe in me and don’t betray me, I won’t leave.
Haein Lee: I won’t betray. I just want to correct that it wasn’t sexual harassment.
Skater C: Then protest again and let me know if there’s anything I can help with.
Haein Lee: Hmm. Thanks.”
Haein and Skater C went to Italy for training on May 15. The ‘kiss mark’ incident occurred on May 23. The skating federation conducted its initial investigation on June 3 and 5. Even after the first investigation by the federation, the two continued their loving conversations.
In June Haein Lee was investigated for drinking with (player B) during training in Italy. She was then called in again concerning the ‘kiss mark’. Skater C was in the same situation. He attended the investigation into the ‘kiss mark’. C made statements about ‘why he entered the girls’ dorm’, ‘what kind of relationship he had with Haein Lee, and ‘whether a kiss mark was left on (the neck)’.
“Skater C: Thank you.. really.. for believing in me. I’ll make sure your faith in me isn’t wasted. I’ll get revenge and make you happy.
Haein Lee: Ahh.. receiving such love from you feels too much yet it makes me so happy.
Skater C: I’m always really thankful too. When others speak ill, I will be the one to confidently deny it.
Haein Lee: I was so happy and touched because you told me I am the best girlfriend ever and there’s no one like me. I hope that on Thursday, both of us get by with just a warning…”
However, Haein received a 3-year suspension. C’s case was concluded with just a reprimand. Haein Lee was perceived as the offender, C as the victim.
Haein Lee sighed. Her agency is AllThatSports. Lee continued, saying, “I only said what the company told me to…”
“My agency provided the responses for the federation’s investigation. They told me ‘not to disclose that C and I were in a relationship.'”
According to Lee, AllThatSports also suggested an answer for how the ‘kiss mark’ came about. “They said to claim that during a board game, as a penalty, I softly bit C’s neck. That’s exactly what I said.”
Did C recite the model answer? He added something extra. It is reported that he said, “I was shocked and left the room.”
An official from the skating federation told Dispatch, “The statements of Haein Lee and C diverged at the end. C said, ‘I left the room shocked (after the kiss mark).'”
“Both didn’t disclose that they were a couple. Given the situation, when C said he left the room shocked, it was inevitable to perceive him as the victim. We primarily reflected the victim’s words,” said Skating Federation.
Another a screen shots of their texting:
“Haein Lee: When you were giving your statement to the fair commission, did you ever say that you were shocked and ran out after the kiss mark?
Skater C: No? I never said that. I never mentioned running out shocked, I just said I left.
Haein Lee: You said you left? And didn’t mention that we just hung out afterward?
Skater C: Yeah. Everyone told me to say that.
Haein Lee: Ah… so that’s why this happened to me…
Skater C: Uh… sorry…
Haein Lee: I was trying to protect you to the end…
Skater C: Ah… I didn’t think of it that way at the time… I didn’t know it would go wrong.”
The statements between Haein Lee and Skater C diverged significantly. With a three-year suspension already imposed on Haein, she hoped C would correct the situation through a formal statement. Here’s a snippet from their conversation on June 25:
“Haein Lee: But I heard from your side (lawyer) that you denied we ever dated?
Skater C: Huh? We did date, so I insisted on not denying that. I also told them that concerning the mark, it was a playful bite since we were in a relationship.”
C had responded, “I did tell them that,” but added excuses that his parents and lawyer did not approve. “I mentioned that to them. But they said they did not want to handle it that way. Acknowledging the relationship is fine and I’m willing to help, but to talk about the neck as a playful act would make it seem like a real kiss mark, which might increase your (Haein Lee) punishment, and they were somewhat against that,” texted Skater C.
‘Dispatch’ reached out to C’s side for a statement on this incident. “We have a lot to say. However, for the wellbeing of fellow figure skater Lee Hae-in, we choose to remain silent until the reconsideration is concluded,” said the Lawyer.
Skater C’s discipline ended with just a reprimand —a slap on the wrist to caution against future misconduct. He was luckily reinstated to compete in the Junior Grand Prix selections. A skating official told Dispatch, “During the training period, C was frequently entering the female dormitories,” and remarked, “Based on past cases, a competition suspension was also a possibility.”
On June 26, Haein Lee filed for a retrial with the Korean Sports Council, with lawyer Kim Ga-ram representing her legally.
Lawyer Kim Ga-ram included exchanges from Snapchat between the two as evidence in the retrial application. These messages were exchanged the day after the ‘kiss mark’ incident on May 24.
“Skater C: No one saw the kiss today, right? I just couldn’t help it.
Haein Le: I thought you were hugging me, but then suddenly a kiss.
Skater C: Just need to make sure not to get caught! Want to meet tonight? Haha”
On May 24, the kiss mark on the neck was discovered (by a coach). The incident caused an uproar at the training camp in Italy. C was the first to apologize.
“Skater C: I was wrong about the kiss mark, and it’s only right that I take responsibility.
Haein Lee: I’m sorry. Even if you asked me, I shouldn’t have done it. I’m the adult here. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
So the lawyer questioned: “What part of this is considered sexual humiliation? Have efforts been made to understand the substantive facts? The day after imposing a three-year suspension, the federation published provocative articles claiming sexual harassment by a minor. I sincerely hope the portion on sexual assault is rectified.”
Related topics: Haein Lee
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