It is official! Finally, Lee Seung Gi takes legal action against Hook Entertainment agency for the ongoing issue and scandal regarding his unpaid salary and music income. The issue worsened significantly after Hook Entertainment took audacious actions without prior agreement with Lee Seung Gi. Check out the following report for the complete story.
Lee Seung Gi Officially Sues Hook Entertainment Agency for Salary Issue and Income Scandal
The ongoing feud between Lee Seung Gi and Hook Entertainment finally reaches its climax. Lee Seung Gi decided to take his well-deserved legal actions against the agency regarding the issue of his unpaid salary and income scandal.
On December 22, Lee Seung Gi legal representative announced that they had taken legal action. Through the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office, Lee Seung Gi has officially sued the former and present directors of Hook Entertainment, including CEO Kwon Jin Young.
According to the announcement, Hook Entertainment has become an eligible subject of legal action for hiding Lee Seung Gi’s generated sales from his music. It had happened for 18 years since his debut, and the agency did not intend to settle at all.
Therefore, Lee Seung Gi’s legal representative sued Hook Entertainment agency CEO Kwon Jin Young and its finance director for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement in business) and Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (fraud).
Hook Entertainment Agency Embezzles Money from Lee Seung Gi’s Advertising Salary & Income Scandal – MORE Issue!
What is highly appalling in the announcement was the revelation of a more concerning issue between Lee Seung Gi and his agency.
Not only had Hook Entertainment fabricated the income of Lee Seung Gi music, the agency also embezzled money from his revenue and salary from advertising and model.
Lee Seung Gi had previously thought that the agency had calculated and included his income and salary from all his ongoing projects. However, it turns out that the former and current Hook Entertainment directors had embezzled his fee for themselves.
“Lee Seung Gi knew that the agency took approximately 10% of the advertising model fee for a so-called ‘agency commission’ to the advertising agencies. However, it turned out that the former and current Hook Entertainment directors shared the money for themselves instead. And it has been going on for several years.”
Lee Seung Gi’s legal representative.
The Agency’s Audacious Actions Without Prior Agreement
Furthermore, as if the agency wanted to clear the scandal as soon as possible, Hook Entertainment took audacious actions regarding Lee Seung Gi salary and income issue. Even when the agency refused to settle the issue with Lee Seung Gi, they acted audaciously without prior agreement.
Previously, Hook Entertainment finally admitted their embezzlement issues only after Lee Seung Gi decided to bring them up. However, despite the agency’s rejection of settling, Hook Entertainment went ahead and paid a sum of money to Lee Seung Gi without reaching any agreement.
“Hook Entertainment admitted their fraud and paid Lee Seung Gi 630 million KRW (approximately 491,000 USD) of the embezzled advertising fees and delay interest. Therefore, we decided to sue Hook Entertainment CEO Kwon Jin Young along with the 3 current and former directors, for fraud and occupational embezzlement.
There has never been a prior agreement between Lee Seung Gi and Hook Entertainment agency regarding the music salary and income issue. Still, Hook Entertainment transferred 4.81 billion KRW (3.8 million USD), claiming it was Lee Seung Gi unpaid music salary and defrauded advertisement income. Not only that, they also filed a confirmation of the non-existence of debt lawsuit against Lee Seung Gi.”
Lee Seung Gi’s legal representative.
What is worse is that Hook Entertainment did not provide any direct confirmation to Lee Seung Gi’s side. Lee Seung Gi only learned about his agency audacious actions via a news report. He did not receive the official complaint yet.
A LARGE Gap in Salary and Income Amount Leads to Continuous Issue and Scandal
Even when it seems that Hook Entertainment agency is in a rush to end the ongoing salary issue and income scandal with Lee Seung Gi, they instead took actions that resulted in prolonged controversies.
Despite their so-called payment and the non-existence of debt claim against Lee Seung Gi, the amount of money Hook Entertainment paid to Lee Seung Gi was far less than the existing calculation of unpaid income and salary from Lee Seung Gi’s legal representative. Therefore, Lee Seung Gi’s side is planning to respond to the agency audacious action with a counterclaim.
Hook Entertainment is finally facing an official lawsuit and settlement claim regarding Lee Seung Gi unpaid music salary and compensation for damages caused by illegal acts.
“Lee Seung Gi strongly believes there should be no more victims like himself.
We will file criminal charges against CEO Kwon Jin Young as well as former and present directors of Hook Entertainment. We will do our very best to reveal all the truth about this case so no victim will experience the same thing ever again.”
Lee Seung Gi’s legal representative.
Lee Seung Gi Donated Hook Entertainment Money for Various Charity Causes
Finally, Lee Seung Gi posted an official statement for the first time about the salary issue and income scandal with Hook Entertainment on December 16.
The actor stated that he would donate all the money he received from Hook Entertainment’s audacious moves for charity. No matter the amount, Lee Seung Gi had originally intended to donate all the money he received from the salary issue and income scandal with the agency and dedicate them to those needing dire help. And he started it with the 4.81 billion KRW he received from Hook Entertainment.
So, what do you think about the audacious action from Hook Entertainment? Was it the right move to end the issue peacefully and regain their reputations in the Korean entertainment industry?
Feel free to share your thoughts about Lee Seung Gi salary issue and income scandal with the agency in the comments. And stay with Kpoppost Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram channel for more updates.
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