Lee Seung Gi Monk Photo Controversy Sparks Return Demand

Chairman Cha Ga-won of Hook Entertainment is reportedly in a dispute with his former artist, Lee Seung-gi. Hyun Dong-yeop, an attorney representing Chairman Cha Ga-won, stated, "We hope Lee Seung-gi will personally practice the principle of 'coming with empty hands and leaving with empty hands,' and live a life of non-possession."

Previously, Lee Seung-gi posted a photo on his social media of himself dressed as a monk during the filming of the movie 'The Big Family,' promoting the GV event for the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. In response, Chairman Cha Ga-won's side retorted, "We hope you will return everything you received from Chairman Cha Ga-won."

Currently, Chairman Cha Ga-won is at the center of controversy over delayed artist settlement payments and unpaid employee wages. While Lee Seung-gi is in the process of terminating his exclusive contract, he revealed through MBC's 'PD Notebook' that Chairman Cha Ga-won continuously urged him and his wife to move into the upstairs apartment, expressing a desire to live close to them.

Lee Seung-gi also claimed, "I had to move into the rental apartment urgently, and they didn't confirm the exact deposit, citing delays in appraisal. Immediately after moving in, they demanded 10.5 billion won, three times the amount initially discussed." He added, "He said he would cover the loan interest himself, but that promise is not being kept."

In response, Chairman Cha Ga-won's side countered, stating that Lee Seung-gi sent a thank-you message at the time saying, "Thank you for letting me move into LaOO, Chairman," and argued, "I have been paying the interest, which amounts to hundreds of millions of won per month, for three years. Lee Seung-gi's side is mistaken."