[OSENWORLD] Osaka OjoGang, winners of Street Woman Fighter 3, are now mired in internal conflict, with turmoil overshadowing their victory. What began with one member’s absence from a concert has spiraled into disputes over management, finances, and trust.
The Japanese crew won the Mnet dance competition in July, earning acclaim for their distinctive performances and strong chemistry. Kyoka’s standout stage presence was particularly noted during the season. But after the show, tensions flared during the group’s nationwide tour.
At THE REAL STAGE concerts in Seoul on September 6–7, only six members appeared. Leader IBUKI was absent, while the others tearfully apologized to fans. Organizer Route59 later announced that she had “reversed her agreement and notified us of her withdrawal.”
That same night, IBUKI fired back on social media, alleging she was pressured into contracts without a voice as an artist and accusing the company of unfair practices. Route59 countered that her manager had demanded undisclosed side conditions, including requests to omit performance fees from contracts, which the company said made negotiations impossible.
On September 9, six members — Ruu, Hana, Kyoka, Junna, Minami, and Uwa — issued a joint statement. They explained that IBUKI’s longtime personal manager had become OjoGang’s manager when the team was formed, a move that, they said, triggered repeated disputes: unpaid or unclear performance fees, offers not shared with members, and lost opportunities for both group and solo activities.
The six added that IBUKI had once apologized and promised to dismiss the manager but never followed through. “We believed her words and agreed to rebuild trust so all seven of us could perform together. But that promise was not kept,” they wrote.
Their post was soon deleted, and the members later claimed they were locked out of the group’s official account — raising suspicion that the manager intervened.
Meanwhile, speculation online has only intensified, with unverified claims of a personal connection between IBUKI and the manager and rumors about secret contracts to divert performance fees. None of these have been confirmed, but the chatter reflects just how far the crew’s image has fallen since their win.
What started as a missed stage has now escalated into a broader crisis over leadership, transparency, and loyalty. Whether IBUKI will address the accusations further — or whether OjoGang can repair the damage — remains closely watched by fans.
/k_inside@osen.co.kr
