Millions Won Paid After "Passing"—Activities and Refunds "Uncertain"

[Anchor]

There are academy-style entertainment agencies that lure parents and children dreaming of becoming celebrities or models with promises of training and activity opportunities, requiring contracts worth millions of won. However, actual opportunities for activities are rarely provided, and cases where victims fail to get refunds even after terminating their contracts are rapidly increasing.

Reporter Jeong Seong-jin has the story.

[Reporter]

In September of last year, Person A paid 2.97 million won for a two-year contract after hearing the news that their child had been selected as a kids model.

Contrary to the explanation that there would be active model offers, there was only a single model offer over seven months, and even that was an internal shooting session by the agency.

Person A tried to get a refund for the remaining period, but the company notified them that there was no money to return, claiming they had spent more on profile photography and other expenses.

[Person A: I signed the contract because they said a refund would be possible excluding just a 10 percent penalty, but then they sent me a settlement statement claiming there is no amount to refund.]

Teenager B, who passed an acting audition and paid 4 million won for a one-year contract, was disappointed after receiving training just once.

[Teenager B: They just taught me a bit about vocalization and diaphragmatic breathing, handed me a script, and made me just read it.]

When she requested contract termination after two weeks, the company demanded a 39 percent penalty plus additional costs, returning less than half of the money.

[Mother of Teenager B: I checked other places, and they said no place conducts (acting training) like that. But they even charged us for the profile (photography) session claiming they had already booked it.]

Damages involving so-called academy-style entertainment agencies, which offer training and debut opportunities to children dreaming of becoming celebrities, are surging rapidly.

Damage reports filed with the Korea Consumer Agency more than tripled from 41 cases in 2023 to 148 cases last year.

Contract termination-related damages accounted for 98.6%, and settlements including refunds were reached in less than half of the cases.

[Person A: I just wanted to create good memories (for my child), but I suffered a lot of stress both economically and mentally.]

The Korea Consumer Agency advised people not to be dazzled by audition acceptance notices and to verify actual casting records and refund conditions before signing contracts.

(Video editing: Lee Hong-myung, Design: Cho Su-in)

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