158 says he was 'shocked' by dating violence allegations against Nitmolcash: 'I had no prior knowledge'

Internet broadcaster 158 (real name Lee Myung-jae) said he was "shocked" by the dating violence allegations that have recently surfaced against Nitmolcash (real name Cha Jeong-il), a content creator he has known for years.

Writing on his Instagram account Tuesday, 158 said he first learned of the allegations when they became public and that his agency subsequently confirmed the facts with him. "Given that this involves someone I have worked and created content with for a long time, I too was shocked," he wrote. "I am once again filled with disappointment and anger that the person at the center of this has not taken proper steps to address the situation."

158 also acknowledged concerns that his close, long-running association with Nitmolcash might lead people to wonder whether he had known about the behavior or turned a blind eye to it. "Let me be clear on this point," he said. "I had no prior knowledge of the personal conduct and behavior that has now come to light. I am encountering it for the first time through this matter."

"We did not know every detail of each other's personal relationships and what went on within them, so in learning what has been disclosed, I too came face to face with a side of him and facts I had not known before," he added. "This is something no one should ever do. It is by no means a trivial matter."

Earlier, Nitmolcash's agency NOB Entertainment confirmed Tuesday that it had verified the facts with the creator after posts about him circulated online. "In the course of that verification, we confirmed that some of the conduct and behavior described in the posts did occur," the agency said.

The agency added that it was treating the matter with the utmost seriousness and had decided, in consultation with Nitmolcash, to suspend all of his activities. It said it was also working with relevant partners to take the necessary follow-up steps regarding scheduled advertisements and content.

A woman identifying herself as Nitmolcash's former girlfriend had earlier posted on Instagram alleging that she suffered dating violence during their relationship, including abusive language and behavior.

Nitmolcash is a content creator known for the video series "Jaljayo Agassi" (Good Night, Miss), among other works.