Lee Seung Givs HOOK, settlement issue over payment... Sentencing hearing today (17th)

Singer and actor Lee Seung Gi is continuing his legal dispute over the liquidation of his former management company, HOOK Entertainment.
On the 17th, HOOK Entertainment (hereinafter referred to as HOOK
) will hold a hearing to declare the non-existence of debt filed against Lee Seung Gi. Previously, in December 2022, Lee Seung Gi claimed that he had not been paid a cent in royalties for the use of his music for about 18 years.
The company sent a certified letter to HOOK demanding the settlement of the profits from the music and a notice to terminate the exclusive contract. In addition, the company accused HOOK's executives of violating the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement in business).
), on suspicion of violating the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Certain Economic Crimes (fraud). On the other hand, HOOK has filed a lawsuit against Lee Seung Gi for unpaid wages in addition to the 1.3 billion won (approximately 136.8 million yen) already paid to him.
The company said it had paid the full amount of the settlement amount of 2.9 billion won (approximately 305 million yen) and the late interest of 1.2 billion won (approximately 126 million yen), and that it had "debted Lee Seung Gi no longer to any settlement amount."
"We have confirmed that the debt does not exist, and have filed a lawsuit to determine whether or not there is a debt in order to resolve the dispute with Lee Seung Gi over the settlement amount."
HOOK, who paid Lee Seung Gi a total of 5.4 billion won (approximately 568 million yen), later withdrew the settlement amount for advertising activities from the actual amount.
The lawsuit claims that the company paid more than it should have paid in advertising fees, and has now changed the grounds of its claim to demand that the equivalent of 900 million won (approximately 94.7 million yen) be returned.
However, Lee Seung Gi's side received 3 billion won (approximately 1.5 billion won) in advertising agency fees and music and album revenues.
On the 15th of last month, at the hearing held at the 20th Civil Agreement Division of the Seoul Central District Court, HOO
K's side claimed, "The two sides settled the matter without any problems and the matter was dropped based on the music revenue alone." Lee Seung Gi, who attended the hearing, said, "We have been involved in music, advertising, and concerts for over 18 years.
"After the court reviewed the income from the promotion and other activities, it turned out that HOOK had all the documents," he said, "I asked for the settlement, and HOOK Entertainment later paid the settlement.
She also emphasized, "I ask that they watch over my juniors, who are working in the entertainment industry at a young age like me, so that they don't fall into a vicious cycle of having to endure the pain of settlement."
As the fierce legal battle between the two sides unfolds, attention is focused on the outcome of the verdict, which will determine whether the dispute over the settlement amount will be resolved.