Lee Seung Gi wins second successive settlement battle against Hook Entertainment

Both industry insiders and fans have applauded Lee’s triumph, seeing it as a positive step toward defending artist rights.

Showbiz

By Sneha Sengupta On Apr 4, 2025

Singer-actor Lee Seung Gi won his case before the Seoul Central District Court on April 4, KST in his second settlement battle against his former agency, Hook Entertainment (now Green Snake Entertainment).

This conflict started in November 2022 when Lee claimed that Hook Entertainment had failed to give him any of the money which was due from his music streaming over the previous 18 years. He demanded the settlement of unpaid earnings in a court letter he sent to the corporation. The next month, Lee received ₩5.40 billion KRW (about $3.72 million USD) from the agency in the form of unpaid earnings and accrued interest. In the end, Lee gave a charity ₩5.00 billion KRW, or roughly $3.44 million USD.

However, Hook Entertainment changed its mind and sued Lee, alleging that they had overpaid him. They wanted to get ₩900 million KRW (about $620,000 USD) back from Lee. Lee’s legal team responded by announcing that they had acquired fresh records showing that the corporation still owed him ₩3.00 billion KRW (about $2.07 million USD) and that his total unpaid earnings was ₩9.60 billion KRW (roughly $6.61 million USD).

On April 4, the case filed by Hook Entertainment was heard by the Seoul Central District Court, which dismissed all of the company’s remaining claims related to additional costs and counterclaims. In addition to delayed interest, the business has been ordered to pay Lee Seung Gi ₩581 million KRW, or roughly $401,000 USD. Additionally, 50% of the legal fees must be paid by both parties.

The decision has established a standard for openness and responsibility in Korea’s entertainment sector, particularly in the relationship between performers and their agency.

Lee Seung Gi