The news around agency Hook Entertainment has gone from uh-oh to bad to worse. The agency was raided last week by the Major Crimes Unit of the Seoul police, reportedly collecting evidence for allegations of embezzlement and perhaps other financial misconduct by executives. Reportedly Hook fell under the purview of the cops after its artist Park Min Young was revealed to be dating a shady crypto businessman. They swiftly claimed to have split but the scrutiny was on the dude and his various businesses, which are all reportedly also under investigation and recently searched. Now one of the agency’s top stars Lee Seung Gi, who has been with Hook for 18 years since his debut, has formally demanded a full accounting of all his earnings and payment along with expenses. Veteran actress Youn Yuh Jung just left the agency a few days ago and I wouldn’t be surprised if more stars follow suit, including Lee Seung Gi whether before or after he checks the books for himself.
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Never trust your finances with anyone… one needs to learn to periodically manages and check your books.
The police raided an agency for embezzlement after an artist with the agency was dating someone they found shady? Am I missing something? Is that really cause for a raid? Maybe I am too American, but the police feels like the shady one.
Lol. Maybe that’s your own problem of unferstanding of what dark entertainment business is like esp in s.korea
PMY ex bf is related to the company that acquired Hook entertainment. Some reports mentioned his other companies with shady business are under investigation. The raids maybe related to that investigation.
Wasn’t LSG supposed to have left Hook a while ago and stayed on because they threatened to release some info he didn’t want out? (And no I don’t mean Seunggi is shady – I think he was trying not to get his dating life out in the public which is 100% understandable). My point being this agency was already doing questionable things before the PMY situation so I’m glad he’s asking for the info and checking it out himself. He doesn’t want to get stuck in a difficult situation because he trusted the wrong people.
Also, I’m hoping he moves on to a bigger agency. He’s so talented, and he needs better scripts in both movies and dramas to showcase said talent. His last drama was disastrous.
I guess when you get started in the business that young, you’re sort of sheltered. His music career had sort of been in the sidelines with him focusing more and more on variety and acting. I wondered if Hook Ent. just gaslighted him into taking that route, like do a bunch of varieties/dramas to make money to fund his supposedly money-losing music career.
He signed on when he was 15 and stayed with them for over half his entire life. When he tried to leave, they exposed his private life to force him to stay. Talk about slave contract!
Latest report indicated that he received ZERO revenue from music for 18 years, which is IMPOSSIBLE. He should have gotten more than USD7 million (not sure the figure). He released 137 songs over the years. But the CEO called him “minus singer” and claimed that he earned zero revenue after deduction from marketing and music production, and further claimed that his fans don’t buy his songs. Worse thing is, he is badly treated by his agency. They refused to even pay for his meals and told him to pay out of his own pocket! He’s not even an unknown actor and is loved in South Korea for his music, songs and in variety…..They need to give him justice and pay the poor guy. He’s too nice and trusting.
Koala eonni, please give us your opinion toward this problem.
Nowadays, every news for Seung Gi and hook just make my blood pressure higher and it may reach the boiling point now.
I cried when the “recording” was released, and how SHE curse and threatening Seung Gi through his manager, is beyond imagination.
Furthermore, the conversation with SG’s manager about his card limitation, scolding manager for buying food for seunggi, or even parking fee,…makes me crying blood of tears
TT__TT