The DRX Flashback Controversy: What Actually Happened?

*Warning: The following contents of this article includes terminology and description of events that some viewers may find traumatizing.

Cho "Flashback" Min-hyuk is one of the newer additions to the DRX VALORANT roster lineup, having joined the team back in late 2023. His first year competing in VCT Pacific has been fairly notable, with DRX having qualified for the VCT Champions Seoul as the second seed from the region.

Despite that, Flashback’s debut season is also not without personal turbulence. A disastrous dalliance with a minor has now led to accusations being leveled against the 18-year-old esports player for sexual misconduct.

Original Accusation

**Translations utilized within this report were sourced from a combination of user-translations from prior reports, official English statements, and translations from this author to the best of writer's ability.

The original accusation stemmed from the alleged victim's X/Twitter post dated 23rd July. Claims from the post detailed an alleged relationship between the victim and a DRX player that occurred at an unspecified time within the last year.

The claim began that during the course of the brief relationship with aforementioned DRX player, "something" had happened that "deeply hurt" the former, a Korean female. She alleged that this ‘professional gamer A’ as she named him, had ejaculated inside her without her consent. This allegedly happened on at least 2 separate occasions during their meeting.

According to her first telling, this ‘professional gamer A’ had contacted her via social media application Instagram after viewing her Instagram story a number of times. “He later contacted me through DM and phone, telling me that he had an interest in me.”

***This player was heavily insinuated and suggested to be Flashback since the original accusation became public knowledge. It has since been confirmed that ‘professional gamer A’ was indeed Flashback.

She alleges then that after his game, he had visited her neighborhood to meet her and the two had sexual intercourse. She specified that during this time, he had ejaculated inside her without consent.

“The player, right after the match, said, "All the seniors (older players) are out, and I'm alone. If it's okay, I'll come to your neighborhood." Despite this reason, without even confirming if we were in a relationship, Flashback started having sex.

Even though I expressed that I didn't want him to ejaculate inside, he ignored my wishes and, without any agreement to use protection, he ejaculated inside me, forcibly performing stealthing.

When I asked, "What if I get pregnant?" he sang the wedding march, implying that it wouldn't be a problem if we got married.”

For those unfamiliar with the term, stealthing refers to when a male - during the act of sexual intercourse - removes protection without consent and ejaculates within the female vagina.

In many parts of the world including Germany and parts of the EU, this is legislated and punishable. However, in South Korea, it has not been legislated. Frowned upon as sexual misconduct certainly, but not punishable by law in South Korea.

Breaking Down the Accusation

One of the many screenshots include by the alleged victim accusing Flashback. This one details their discussions surrounding the consent or lack of it prior to his non-consensual internal ejaculation. (Credit: X/Twitter)

Referring to the screenshots she included with her accusations, Flashback had claimed that he did not ejaculate inside her the first time as she had said no when he asked. However, he went on the claim as well that when he had asked in a subsequent time, she had given consent.

"I've never ejaculated inside you when you said no," said Flashback.

The complication comes from her reply, which states: "So, you did hear when I said no the first time you ask me. But it was you who ejaculated inside me when you took my silence as a yes the second time you asked me."

However, the biggest complication comes from the translation of the original accusation. The strong emphasis on her role in the incident as a minor versus Flashback, as well as the inclusion of the term ' non-consensual internal ejaculation'. All of this amounted to an initial global impression of the situation as the DRX player's (Flashback) involvement with a minor (pedophilia) with non-consensual internal ejaculation (rape).

However, further readings and research of the situation have allowed many to come to the conclusion, including this writer, that the actual situation was far from the initial impression given by the translation and spread original post. The coitus was consensual although the internal ejaculation was not. The status of the victim as a minor was also inconsequential as both members were 18 years of age.

Korean Age Calculation

One important detail to note is the recording of ages in Korea. Unlike the rest of the world, an additional year is added to a person's age, counting in conception time to their overall age. To make matters more confusing, Koreans count your new age at the turn of the year, rather than the actual date of birth itself, meaning that if you were to turn 20 this year, you would be counted as 20 by January 1st.

Difference of calculating age in South Korea. (credit: Google)

The accuser was born on May 2006, making her 18 years old internationally and 19 years old in Korea. Flashback was born on November 15th, 2005 - making him also 18 years old internationally and 20 in Korea. There is a 7 month age gap between them.

The accuser's and translator's emphasis on the title of minor for the girl can then only be seen as disingenous and serves to paint herself in a better moral light, while simultaneously tarnishing Flashback's reputation further.

DRX First Response

With the escalating responses from the original accusation, on the 25th of July, DRX released an official statement addressing the matter. Note in their original notice, they only addressed the accusation vaguely and made no reference to any of their players specifically.

“We have recently confirmed private events related to one of our players have surfaced online. Upon becoming aware of the severity of this issue, we immediately initiated an investigation to ascertain the facts and determine any legal violations.”

The DRX notice went on to say that “no illegal activities had been discovered” at the time of the statement’s writing. Moreover, they also assured that the investigation would continue and assured their full cooperation.

However, the final part of the notice was the incendiary portion and most likely the portion that prompted an updated post from the anonymous user on her accusation.

“Until the ongoing investigation is officially closed, we kindly ask everyone to refrain from spreading any false information and/or making defamatory statements. In particular, any baseless actions with the purpose to defame the player - resulting in damages - will be considered for legal actions according to the player’s wishes.”

Followup from Incident - Further Complications

On the 26th of July, the anonymous user made an update to her original statement that included extra details not included in the first. Moreover, she confirms that the player under accusation is indeed Flashback.

When attempting to define their relationship post-coital, she alleges that the player had been ‘non-committal’ for at least several hours. Her updated post writes that she had asked if he would ‘take responsibility’ for the incident or if he was afraid of having a relationship with a minor.

Following the incident, the two agreed to date in secret (without informing either side’s parents). However, further complications arose when it was revealed in the anonymous user’s updated post that Flashback had still allegedly been in contact with his ex-girlfriend during the course of the relationship - and accused the DRX player of cheating and the targeting of a minor, despite both parties being minors.

The ex-girlfriend has since come out publicly to refute these claims by the accuser, and has counter-claimed that many of the facts were not properly represented in the accuser's original post.

DRX’s Initial Response (Private Handling)

In a first attempt to privately handle the matter, the anonymous accuser’s post wrote that a DRX official had become aware of the situation and had reached out to her for a resolution. According to the post, the DRX official had arrived at her place with Flashback. The following is a loose timeline of events that transpired during the meeting according to her updated post.

• The DRX official listens to her story.
• The DRX official demands the player (Flashback) apologize for his actions.
• Promises to expel the player from the team on condition that anonymous user remain silent, not mention DRX, or file an official report.
• The DRX official offers tournament tickets as compensation.
• She accepted two tickets - one for herself and one for her friend.

Before getting into later responses from all parties involved, we need to address both the inconsistencies and some of the concerning details from her story. According to the accuser, the DRX official had promised to resolve the issue by removing Flashback from the DRX active lineup.

No such promise has been proven in any resulting evidence and no other report supports such a promise. If it had indeed occurred as a handshake verbal agreement between both parties, unfortunately, it cannot be proven and Flashback will continue as an active player for DRX.

Moreover, the offering of tournament tickets concerns this particular writer, as such an action could constitute bribery - financial motivation through a ‘reward’ in exchange for cooperation and silence on a matter that would otherwise be a PR nightmare for DRX, as it eventually turned out as anyways.

Broken Promise?

The initial accusation, as dated above, came about allegedly as a followup from accuser, frustrated with DRX’s inaction despite her claims that the official had promised to resolve it and remove Flashback from the roster.

“I did not report to the police initially, trusting the DRX official’s promise that the player would be disciplined, and I remained silent to avoid causing harm to other players.

However, as the tournament approached and the promised disciplinary actions kept being delayed, I decided to publicize the matter while keeping the player’s identity anonymous to prevent harm to the team.

When the DRX official failed to follow through and instead posted a notice protecting the player, I decided to escalate the issue and filed complaints with several public institutions.”

Note, according to her side of the story, she had kept her silence as promised in the original agreement with the DRX official and only escalated it when DRX failed to deliver on their side of the agreement.

Her demands have now escalated and have been listed below:

• The disciplining of DRX officials who retaliated against her.
• Flashback to issue a genuine apology and his expulsion from the roster.

DRX’s Second Response

Issues with the initial translation of the alleged victim’s post have resulted in a false narrative circulating around - painting Flashback with allegations of a more serious accusatory nature (i.e. rape and sexual harassment).

According to follow-ups with the original accuser as well as conclusions from the physical screenshot evidence and corrections from the original translator, it is now known that many of the further accusations leveled against Flashback were incorrect and wrongly framed. While the initial report had truths to it, there were also instances of miscommunication and lack of clarity and consistency in the story.

As a result, DRX released a second statement on the 27th of July.

“We have confirmed ongoing instances of false information and defamation concerning one of our players. In response, DRX will be taking a definitive civil and criminal legal action to protect the reputation of our players and organizations against these false claims. These allegations are an insult to the integrity of DRX, our professional teams and players, and our dedicated fans. As such, we will uphold a zero-tolerance policy and respond accordingly to these claims heading forward.”

Conclusion

As it currently stands, the overall chapter has been concluded, with neither parties found guilty at this time. The situation is still under investigation and the final judgement will be ascertained following those findings.

More than anything, the resulting fallout from this scandal, if it can in fact be called one, is the dangers of misinformation and a failure to fact-check. Here is very little in actuality to this issue. In essence what began as an awkward fumbling between two teenagers has turned into a massive scandal due to one's inability to hold it in and the subsequent accusations that followed.

As a direct result of this, more serious accusations have been levelled against Flashback than were necessary, and damning labels have tarnished the young player's reputation. It remains to be seen the results from the conclusion of the official investigation, however, as it stands currently, much of the global accusations have turned out to be false and unfounded.

Credit: Riot Games

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