Where's the money?

Korean singer Lee Seung-gi recently asked his agency Hook Entertainment for an accounting of income due him from albums and singles he has released for the past 18 years.

Apparently, the 35-year-old K-pop star — who's also an actor and TV host — has not received anything from the label and now he wanted to find out the problem.

As it turned out, Korean online news site Dispatch reported, Hook owed Lee Seung Gi, between October 2009 and September 2022, 9.6 billion won (approximately $7,069,000).

Worse, "five years' worth of statements from June 2004 to August 2009 were missing."

Lee debuted as a performing artist in June 2004 and has released 27 albums and 137 songs, said Dispatch.

Hook CEO Kwon Jin Young has issued a statement, saying he feels "ashamed," and the problem was due to his negligence and lack of discretion."

He asked for "understanding" and that his office is doing a "fact check" He ended with a promise that the agency will be "more careful so there will be no further incidents…"

Police searched the Hook Entertainment office over "suspicions of embezzlement by some executives."

Lee was regarded as a Triple Threat artist for his talents as singer, actor, and host.

The success of his albums and TV dramas in Asia confirmed his status as a top Hallyu idol.

In 2021, Lee was one of 200 actors (100 males and 100 females) chosen by the Korean Film Council to best represent the present and future of the Korean film industry.

On 1 June 2021 he was said to have left Hook Entertainment and formed his own one-man agency Human Made.

But nine days later, Hook announced it signed a new management contract with Lee, adding it will support his independent and creative activities with Human Made.