Singer Sung Si-kyung’s one-person agency has been operating without the legally required registration for 14 years.
A local report on Oct. 16 said SK Jaewon ― the company founded in February 2011 and headed by the singer’s older sister, Sung Eun-jung ― has never registered as a “popular culture and arts planning business,” the category that covers talent management in Korea. Sung is the label’s only artist and has worked there since parting ways with Jellyfish Entertainment in 2018.
Under South Korea’s Act on the Development of the Popular Culture and Arts Industry, corporations and sole proprietors who manage at least one entertainer must register. Violations can bring business suspensions, fines of up to 20 million won, or up to two years in prison.
The company said it is now moving to comply: “When we launched in 2011, there was no such regulation, and we did not receive separate guidance after it took effect. We’re currently confirming the procedures and inquiring about registration.”
Musical theater star Ok Joo-hyun faced a similar issue earlier this year when her agency TOI Entertainment and personal company Title Role were found to be unregistered. She later apologized and submitted registration applications.
Photo: Baik Seung-Chul
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)