According to the most recent allegations, South Korean actor and singer Lee Seung-gi have not been paid for his songs in the previous 18 years. On November 17, the actor officially sought a report on his musical activities and money collected through his old agency, Hook Entertainment, during the previous 18 years. According to the same story, the actor has not gotten a single dime from the sales of his records.
On November 21, Dispatch reported that in January 2021, the actor got a mail from a Hook Entertainment employee in which he could view the revenues and earnings from the sales of his song. He did not, however, get any of the profits or earnings. When Dispatch just reported that the actor never got any money from Hook Entertainment, the actor’s accusations seemed to be validated. In his 18-year musical career, Lee Seung-gi has written over 130 songs. Because You Are My Girl, his first film, catapulted him to popularity in 2004. Following his first song, which was produced by PSY, he went on to write more hit songs including Delete. Many prizes followed for the actor and singer, including two Baeksang Arts Awards, four Mnet Asian Music Awards, eight SBS Drama Awards, and twelve SBS Entertainment Awards.
Lee Seung-songs gi allegedly generated 9.6 billion won ($7.1 million) Between 2009 and 2022.
According to Dispatch, Hook Entertainment generated a lot of money off of Lee Seung-CDs, gi’s but the Return vocalist never got any of it. His first three albums, published in 2004, 2006, and 2007, sold over 100,000 copies each. As the actor’s fame grew at the time, many people utilized his songs as ringtones. His song was also utilized as background music for Cyworld. His old agency, on the other hand, has not paid him anything from the music’s profit and income, including royalties.
PSY, the producer of Lee Seung-first gi’s single Because You Are My Girl, revealed that he got royalties after the song’s sale and streaming. Hook Entertainment allegedly withheld all profits from the actor’s songs and albums. According to reports, the actor made more than $7.16 million in earnings from his songs between 2006 and 2022. In his agency’s corporate account, the sum was reported as sales.
According to reports, the agency tampered with the actor’s musical activities’ sales and earnings reports. Dispatch further revealed that account data for sales and income from 2004 to 2009 were destroyed and cannot be restored. It’s difficult to say how much money was spent and how much profit the actor made from his hit songs at the time. According to the South Korean magazine, the sales would total 10.0 billion KRW (about $7.46 million). The actor did not earn any of the proceeds from his sixth album’s digital sales. According to the Dispatch story, Lee Seung-gi was repeatedly gaslighted by his old agency, Hook Entertainment.
People in power at the agency used to ridicule him, according to Dispatch.
“Seung Gi! Seung Gi!” Your fans do not purchase albums. They don’t have any money, but they have a lot of wants.”
Another Hook Entertainment official allegedly used to persuade him, saying:
“Kim, the manager.” Lee Seung Gi is finished. Take the correct way. Spend less money.”
According to the story, the CEO of his previous agency made certain that the actor did not use the company’s credit card for meals or personal expenses.
On Twitter, the actor’s fans are horrified and upset.
Fans flocked to Twitter to vent their rage against Hook Entertainment, pledging to take harsh action against the company. Fans are outraged by the actor’s previous agency’s treatment of him. Lee Seung-gi quit Hook Entertainment in 2021 to launch his own agency, Human Made. He most recently appeared in the KBS2 drama The Law Cafe.
[Exclusive] In June 2004, he debuted with his first regular album “Dream of a Moth.”
6,743 days.
18 years.
However, he did not receive even one won (of music payment)
This, obviously, is a slave contract.
Lee Seung-gi.— TMIKpop (@tmikpop) November 21, 2022
I don’t even have the mind to read Lee Seung-gi’s story fully
What they did to him is just so inhumane. 18years??
I’m just happy he spoke up& left the company, I hope he’s happy and knows how talented he is both as an artist and actor. I hope he’s surrounded by good people now❤️— 𝑀𝓊𝒿𝑒𝑒𝒷𝒶𝓉! 𝐼𝓃 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝐵𝑜𝓍⁷ 🏁 (@M_Adeeronke) November 21, 2022
