K-pop agency crisis deepens: Artists flee over ‘Cha Ga-won risk’ as Lee Seung-gi exits

From left, Taemin, Cha Ga-won and Lee Seung-gi / Xportsnews

A growing crisis at K-pop agency One Hundred Label and its subsidiary Big Planet Made Entertainment is triggering a wave of artist departures, with singer-actor Lee Seung-gi becoming the latest to terminate his contract.

On Monday, Lee’s legal representative said that he notified the agency of contract termination in late March, citing violations of the exclusive agreement. The contract has been “lawfully terminated,” his side said.

Big Planet Made said it is “doing its best to normalize management as quickly as possible” and added that it is continuing discussions to resolve the matter amicably.

At the center of Lee’s departure are allegations of unpaid staff costs. According to his side, “Despite various issues surrounding the agency and some unpaid settlement amounts, we tried to maintain trust. However, problems arose in supporting entertainment activities and paying staff and external vendors.”

Lee is not alone. Several artists have either left or are seeking to leave the agency, fueling what fans are calling a “mass exodus.”

K-pop boy band The Boyz is currently demanding contract termination, citing breaches of contract and a breakdown of trust. The group said unpaid settlements, delayed staff payments and insufficient on-site support were key reasons. The agency, however, said it cannot accept the termination request.

The Boyz / Xportsnews

Other artists — including VIVIZ, Lee Mu-jin and BE'O — have also notified the company of their intent to terminate contracts. The agency said “no final conclusions have been reached” and that it is working to support normal activities.

The situation first gained attention when Taemin ended his contract less than two years after joining Big Planet Made following his departure from SM Entertainment. Reports said issues included not only unpaid settlements but also a major error involving an external contract allegedly signed without Taemin’s consent.

At the center of the controversy is Cha Ga-won, chairperson of One Hundred Label. She co-founded the company in 2023 with MC Mong, who has since left, leaving Cha as the sole head.

Since then, multiple reports have surfaced alleging unpaid fees across key areas of artist operations, including music production, content creation, styling and marketing. These alleged financial issues are now widely seen as the driving force behind the ongoing departures.

In one case, a music video production company said it had not received 65.96 million won ($49,000) from INB100, a label under One Hundred.

With artists continuing to exit and disputes unresolved, questions are mounting over whether remaining acts can maintain normal activities — and whether the agency can recover from the escalating crisis.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.