Sa unang pagkakataon, nagsalita na ang South Korean superstar na si Lee Seung Gi tungkol sa diumano'y panloloko sa kanya ng Hook Entertainment.
Ang Hook Entertainment ay ang South Korean talent management group na nag-manage kay Lee Seung Gi at kasalukuyang nagma-manage sa ilan pang sikat na Korean actors tulad nina Park Min Young at Choi Gyu Ri.
Pinamahalaan ng Hook Entertainment ang career ni Lee Seung Gi mula 2004 hanggang 2022.
Kinumpirma ni Lee Seung Gi na kailanman ay wala raw siyang nakuhang talent fee sa trabaho niya bilang singer sa loob ng 18 taon.
Ito ay sa kabila ng pagkakaroon niya ng multiple albums, na ayon sa online news agency na Dispatch ay may total of 137 songs.
November 17, 2022 nang sulatan ng abogado ni Lee Seung Gi ang Hook Entertainment na magsumite ng records ng payment para sa lahat ng music-related projects ng singer-actor-host.
READ: South Korean superstar Lee Seung Gi at odds with his agency over talent-fee issue
Hindi na nakapagtimpi si Lee Seung Gi dahil patuloy umano siyang minamanipula ng kanyang agency sa kabila ng kontrobersiya.
Nitong December 16, 2022, naglabas siya ng saloobin sa kanyang verified Instagram account.
Inamin niyang siya ay "angry, frustrated, at disappointed" sa sigalot nila ng agency niya.
Sa halip na bigyang-linaw ang isyu tungkol sa kanyang music fees, basta na lang daw siyang binayaran ng "5 billion won" ($3.8 million or $200 million based on current exchange rate).
Pahayag ni Lee Seung Gi: "I received a text this morning that approximately 5 billion won has been deposited into my account.
"Hook Entertainment probably thinks I'm just taking legal action to get paid. I never received one of those cheesy sound sources billing...
"They are trying to wrap the case up unilaterally under the name of 'unpaid allowance.'
"I didn't even know I had money to pay for the sound source until now."
Tila kinumpirma rin ni Lee Seung Gi ang bali-balitang napaniwala siya umano ng Hook na wala siyang kinikita sa pagiging singer dahil bano siya sa pagkanta.
Matatandaang isang whistleblower mula sa Hook Entertainment ang nagsapubliko na mismong ang head ng Hook Entertainment ang tumatawag kay Lee Seung Gi na "minus singer."
Giit naman ni Lee Seung Gi, walang katumbas na halaga ang pinaghirapan niyang trabaho.
Hindi raw pera ang habol niya kundi ang pagnanais na itama ang maling ginawa sa kanya.
"I've been hearing 'minus singer' for 18 years. That's not the reason I'm suing Hook for the money that was pushed.
"The value of one's sweat should not be used unfairly on one's greed. I thought this was the best mission I could do.
"There are now five billion won in. Of course, I don't know on what basis and how they calculated it.
"However, I don't understand Hook's calculation, so I think I'll continue to be in court from now on."
Bukod sa pagiging singer, si Lee Seung Gi ay kilala sa mga K-drama na pinagbidahan niya tulad ng Vagabond (2019), Mouse (2021), My Girlfriend is A Gumiho (2010), Hwayugi: A Korean Odyssey (2017-2018), Gu Family Book (2013), The King 2 Hearts (2012), Brilliant Legacy (2009), at You're All Surrounded (2014).
LEE SEUNG GI ON LEGAL ACTION VS. HOOK ENTERTAINMENT
Desidido si Lee Seung Gi na ipagpatuloy ang demanda laban sa Hook Entertainment.
Patunay raw na hindi pera ang habol niya ay nangako siyang ido-donate ang buong halaga ng music fees na hindi inintrega sa kanya ng ahensya.
"It will be an intense fight, and I would like to say first that I apologize for the fatigue of the public watching it.
"However, what I can promise is that I will donate the entire amount no matter how much the outstanding payment is.
"We plan to return everything from the 500 billion won that was deposited today to the society except for the lawsuit protection.
"This is not a morning thought. The moment I decided to fight Hook, I decided to spend all the money I had for the hard and difficult people.
"I've lived without knowing the bill of music source until now. Of course, the 500 billion I received today is too big and precious for me. Deep in my teens, 20s, and 30s...
"However, if this money can be used for people who are more difficult than me, the happiness and value I feel would simply be more than 500 billion."
LEE SEUNG GI'S MESSAGE TO HIS FANS
Iniaalay raw niya ito para sa mga masugid niyang tagasuporta na ipinaglalaban siya.
Noong November 2022 ay nag-organisa pa ang solid fan group niya ng roving trucks sa Seoul na may LED screen kunsaan nakasaad ang pinagdadaanan niyang problema.
Mensahe pa ni Lee Seung Gi: "And more than anything, so many people have supported me through this.
"It was a great strength to be angry with me and comforted me.
"Thank you for making me feel loved once again.
"I will return the love by giving back to the society even a little. I hope you have a warm end of the year, and I will sincerely walk on my path as I always did."
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