Lee Seung Gi Wins Big In Court Again, Former Agency Ordered To Pay KRW 580 Million
On April 4, KST, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of singer-actor Lee Seung Gi in his second settlement dispute against his former agency, Hook Entertainment (now known as Green Snake Entertainment).
The beginning of this dispute dates back to November 2022, when Lee accused Hook Entertainment of not paying him any of his rightful income from his music streams for the last 18 years. He sent a legal notice to the company, demanding the settlement of unpaid earnings. In the following month, the agency transfered ₩5.40 billion KRW (about $3.72 million USD) to Lee as unpaid earnings and accumulated interest. Lee ended up donating ₩5.00 billion KRW (about $3.44 million USD) to charity.
Hook Entertainment, however, reversed course and filed a lawsuit against Lee, claiming that they had overpaid him and sough to claim ₩900 million KRW (about $620,000 USD) from him. In response, Lee’s legal team announced that they had obtained new documents which indicated his total unpaid earnings amounted to ₩9.60 billion KRW (about $6.61 million USD) and that the company still owed him ₩3.00 billion KRW (about $2.07 million USD).
The Seoul Central District Court held a hearing for the lawsuit filed by Hook Entertaiment on April 4, dismissing all remaining claims from the company regarding additional fees and counterclaims. The company has been ordered too pay Lee Seung Gi ₩581 million KRW (about $401,000 USD) and delayed interest. In addition, both parties have been ordered to bear 50% of the legal costs.
The ruling has set a precedence for accountability and transparency in the entertainment industry of Korea, especially in the dynamic between artists and their agencies. Lee’s victory has been welcomed with cheers by fans and industry insiders alike as a step in the right direction to protect artist rights.
