Lee Seung Gi’s Legal Representative Releases Official Statement On Unpaid Music Profits From Hook Entertainment

Nov 23, 2022

Lee Seung Gi’s legal representative has released an official statement regarding the ongoing reports of the artist not receiving any payment for music releases over the past 18 years.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that Lee Seung Gi had sent a certification of contents to his agency Hook Entertainment, asking for transparent disclosure of payment. Recently, the agency’s office building was also seized and searched by the Severe Crime Investigation Division of the National Police Agency due to suspicion of embezzlement by some executives. On November 21, Dispatch released a report that claimed Lee Seung Gi had not received any of his revenue from his music and that five years worth of statements from 2004 to 2009 were missing. Hook Entertainment’s CEO Kwon Jin Young briefly responded they are in the process of fact-checking.

On November 24, Lee Seung Gi’s legal representative released the following statement:

"Hello. This is Lee Seung Gi’s legal representative.

First of all, we are apologetic for causing many people concern with a problem between Lee Seung Gi and the agency. Regarding the recent reports of unsettled payment for his music, we would like to express Lee Seung Gi’s stance on his behalf.

As it has been reported, Lee Seung Gi sent Hook Entertainment a certification of contents regarding the unsettled payment for his music on November 15 through a legal representative. We requested that the profit breakdown from the distribution of all the albums Lee Seung Gi participated in be revealed and that the amount he has not been paid for his music be settled and paid.

Following his debut, Lee Seung Gi carried out [music and acting] promotions while under Hook Entertainment for 18 years. In the matter of his activities in the entertainment industry and statement of accounts, Lee Seung Gi fully trusted and followed Hook Entertainment. As representatives of Hook Entertainment did not bring up anything regarding payment for music in the slightest, he was not even aware of generating profits from music, and he recently became aware of the truth that music profits were being made due to a message accidentally sent by an employee. Afterwards, Lee Seung Gi requested settlement details numerous times, but Hook Entertainment gave excuses that were lies such as, “You are a minus singer (meaning negative profit margin),” and avoided providing details.

In this process, Lee Seung Gi heard insulting and threatening remarks that are difficult to even say from the CEO and others, so he eventually decided after much thought on sending a certification of contents through a legal representative because he determined that beyond just the issue of the payment settlement for his music, a relationship of trust could not continue with CEO Kwon Jin Young as well as Hook Entertainment, which he has relied on like family while being together for a long time.

Furthermore, in addition to [the issue of] Lee Seung Gi’s payment for his music, we also have plans to carry out a close examination of various legal relationships between Hook Entertainment including CEO Kwon Jin Young and Lee Seung Gi. Thus, we request Hook Entertainment to transparently reveal the details of sales and settlement of accounts over the course of Lee Seung Gi’s activities in the entertainment industry through several certification of contents, and we are currently expecting a sincere reply from Hook Entertainment.

Regarding the relevant matter, we are grateful and apologetic for the many people who are supporting Lee Seung Gi and taking interest in him. Lee Seung Gi will do his best so that this does not affect the projects he is working on in the future, and we will deliver a separate statement after examining the clear truths of the matter in greater detail."

Source: Soompi