Actress Seo Hyo Rim has been waiting for her unpaid appearance fees for a staggering four years, and despite winning a lawsuit, the situation remains unresolved. She has yet to receive over 100 million KRW in unpaid wages from her former agency.

Seo Hyo Rim has been suffering from unpaid appearance fees dating back to May 2021. This includes payments for her work in the popular drama The Red Sleeve, the movie Indream, and other variety shows and advertisements.

In 2022, Seo Hyo Rim took legal action against her former agency Majic and its CEO Kim Sun Ok, demanding 89 million KRW in unpaid fees. The court ruled in Seo Hyo Rim’s favor, but the money is still unpaid. With interest, the amount she is owed has now risen to 120 million KRW.

Seo Hyo Rim’s side told Dispatch, “Even after the court ruled in our favor, they just keep saying, ‘We can’t pay.’” They added, “They keep making excuses like paying a little bit every month or saying they’ll pay once they get a lump sum of money.”

In October, Seo Hyo Rim reached out to the Korea Actors Association for help. She submitted a request for mediation and filed a complaint about the unpaid fees.

A Korea Actors Association official said, “We are reviewing the materials submitted by both parties.” The official also mentioned, “Appearance fees are a critical issue for both actors and agencies. We will carefully review all the details based on the facts.”

But why is CEO Kim Sun Ok delaying the payments? She explained, “It’s not that I don’t want to pay, but I just can’t right now.” Kim added that her agency is facing financial difficulties and she does not have the funds to pay Seo Hyo Rim.

In a phone interview with Dispatch, CEO Kim said, “The financial situation has been tough. I promised to pay little by little and to pay back once we have enough money, but Seo Hyo Rim rejected that.”

She continued, “I do intend to repay according to the mediation of the Korea Actors Association.” She also said, “If this continues to get reported, it could affect the other actors under the agency. It’s really hard.”

Meanwhile, another unpaid appearance fee case has surfaced involving the late actress Kim Soo Mi. Her estate is owed 160 million KRW for her performance in the musical Mother-in-Law.

The company involved, Rebyte United, is affiliated with Ilgwang Group, a defense industry company. This company is also facing controversies about unpaid staff wages and a contract dispute with the girl group IDOL.

It seems the battle over unpaid appearance fees is far from over, as Seo Hyo Rim and others continue to wait for the money they are owed.

Source: [1]

NewJeans has made waves after announcing their decision to terminate their exclusive contract with their agency, ADOR.

Now, the group is taking matters into their own hands by directly reaching out to global luxury brands to negotiate ambassador contracts. However, this bold move is raising concerns and sparking controversy in the entertainment industry.

According to sources on December 18th, NewJeans recently attempted to contact luxury watch brand O, negotiating a two-party contract through their manager A, who is still affiliated with ADOR.

This move came after NewJeans declared the end of their contract with ADOR on November 29th. Insiders claim that NewJeans began bypassing their agency, reaching out to advertisers on their own with the help of ADOR staff.

In an interview, Manager A revealed, "I conveyed NewJeans' intention to continue fulfilling their advertising contracts as planned, even after the contract termination." This admission sparked controversy, as it implied that NewJeans was trying to negotiate directly with advertisers, which may violate the terms of their previous agreement with ADOR.

During their press conference announcing the termination of their contract, NewJeans assured the public that they would continue with their scheduled events and advertisements, with the full support of ADOR.

However, it seems that the group may have gone behind ADOR’s back to pursue a deal with brand O, which could result in legal issues.

Legal experts have pointed out that these actions could potentially be seen as a breach of the exclusive contract, warning that it may lead to serious consequences for NewJeans in any future legal disputes. In addition to brand O, it was reported that NewJeans also attempted to directly approach another luxury brand through a different manager, B, who left ADOR.

As the situation continues to unfold, ADOR has taken action. Manager A has been placed on standby, and ADOR has informed brand O that any direct contract with NewJeans could be seen as a violation of their agreement. The agency has also told other potential advertisers that all deals involving NewJeans should be coordinated through ADOR.

The ongoing drama has left many fashion brands cautious about working with NewJeans. Sources say that brands, once eager to sign the group for major ambassador deals, are now reconsidering their options.

One industry insider commented, "NewJeans was a group that had a lot of potential, but with this situation, it’s hard to say if brands will take the risk. It’s a shame because they were on track to be as big as BLACKPINK."

As confusion continues to grow, many are questioning if NewJeans’ "self-independent" move will hurt their reputation in the fashion world. The group's popularity is undeniable, but the risks associated with bypassing their agency might cause some brands to think twice.

Source: [1]