Lee Seung-gi Agency Fraud Accusation: Singer Claims Unpaid $7M Lease Deposit Scheme
Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi has launched severe legal allegations against his agency co-CEO, accusing her of exploiting his celebrity status to orchestrate a massive 10.5 billion won (approx. $7.6 million USD) real estate fraud scheme.
According to Lee Seung-gi’s legal representative from Hyunmyung Law Firm, One Hundred Label co-CEO Cha Ga-won—who is currently in law enforcement custody on separate multi-million dollar fraud charges—failed to return a massive jeonse (lump-sum lease) deposit for a luxury residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul.
The $7.3 Million Loan and Hannam-dong Property Scheme
The Lee Seung-gi agency fraud accusation centers on a 2024 lease agreement for a luxury property owned by Cha and her husband:
| Key Aspect | Details & Financial Breakdown |
| Total Lease Deposit | 10.5 Billion KRW (~$7.6 Million USD) |
| Bank Loan Financing | 7.3 Billion KRW (~$5.1 Million USD taken out by Lee Seung-gi) |
| Property Location | Hannam-dong, Central Seoul |
| Current Status | Lease expired; Cha’s side refused deposit return citing personal absence |
Lee’s legal team emphasized that Cha’s spouse refused to return the deposit upon the lease’s expiration, claiming that Cha was the sole contracting party and was currently unavailable due to her detention.
“This goes far beyond a landlord simply lacking the funds to return a deposit,” stated Lee’s legal counsel. “This was a meticulously planned fraud scheme in which a well-known entertainer was compelled to secure a massive loan before the funds were fraudulently appropriated.”
Agency Staff Settlement Prioritized Over Personal Loss
Despite facing immense personal financial risk, Lee Seung-gi has prioritized resolving unpaid staff wages and contract disputes related to the management agency over recovering his personal funds:
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Staff Compensation: Lee has personally advanced funds to cover delayed wages for field staff affected by agency management issues.
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Contract Disputes: Taking proactive steps to resolve ongoing legal friction and minimize damage to innocent third parties.
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Zero Tolerance: Vowing to seek the strictest criminal penalties to prevent similar real estate exploitation within the entertainment industry.
Cha Ga-won’s Broader 30 Billion Won Fraud Charges
The Lee Seung-gi agency fraud accusation adds to Cha Ga-won’s growing legal troubles. Cha was formally detained on charges under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.
She stands accused of receiving 24.2 billion won in upfront payments from entertainment technology firm Knowmerce for artist IP projects that were never delivered, with total estimated damages reaching nearly 30 billion won.
As legal proceedings move forward, Lee Seung-gi’s legal team remains firm in exposing the full scope of the real estate scheme through investigative authorities.
