Lee Seung-gi Wins Court Case Against Former Agency Hook Entertainment
Lee Seung-gi (이승기), the popular singer and actor, has emerged victorious in a legal battle against his former agency, Hook Entertainment (currently known as Chogokbame Media). The Seoul Central District Court ruled on April 4 that Hook must pay Lee 580 million KRW (approximately $440,000) instead of the 900 million KRW (about $680,000) that Hook claimed it was owed in advertising fees.
The court's decision came after a prolonged dispute over settlement payments that began in 2022. Lee alleged that he had not received any royalties from his music for the 18 years he was with Hook. In November 2022, he sent a formal notice questioning the terms of his contract. Hook responded by calculating a settlement amount of around 5.4 billion KRW and filed a lawsuit to confirm that no further debts were owed. However, they later changed their stance, claiming they had overpaid Lee by 900 million KRW due to not deducting advertising commissions.
In response, Lee's team filed a counter-suit, arguing that there had been no agreement on the settlement and that the amount owed was inaccurate. The court found that there was an implicit agreement to settle without deducting commissions and rejected Hook's claims. It also noted that even if no agreement existed, Hook could not demand repayment after having already paid Lee.
The court concluded that Lee is entitled to the remaining 580 million KRW and any delayed damages, stating that Hook had failed to fulfill its obligations during the contract period and had not properly conducted the necessary accounting.
Lee has previously stated that his legal action was not solely about the unpaid money; he intends to donate the entire settlement amount. In a December 2022 social media post, he expressed his belief that the value of someone's hard work should not be misused for another's greed, and he plans to continue fighting in court. He emphasized that regardless of the final amount owed, he is committed to donating it all to help those in need.
