The one-person agency run by actor Gang Dong-won said it is in the process of completing registration procedures as soon as it became aware of the controversy over operating without registering as a popular culture and arts planning business.
On the 18th, a representative of Gang Dong-won's agency AA Group told OSEN, "When there was an issue last week regarding failure to register as a popular culture and arts planning business, we recognized the problem that same day," and said, "We immediately applied for the training and registration and are proceeding."
That day, one media outlet reported that actors and singers including Gang Dong-won, singer Song Ga-in, and singer Kim Wan-sun operated agencies without going through the registration procedure for popular culture and arts planning businesses. Earlier last week, singers Sung Si-kyung and Ok Ju-hyun were also put on the spot over the same controversy.
Gang Dong-won established AA Group in 2023 with CEO Seol Hyun-jung after his exclusive contract with YG Entertainment ended. However, the agency continued operating without registering as a popular culture and arts planning business.
Under the Act on the Development of the Popular Culture and Arts Industry, entertainers who operate as corporations or as sole proprietors with more than one person must register as popular culture and arts planning businesses. To register, they must meet requirements such as "at least two years of practical experience or completion of related training," "screening of disqualifications for representatives and executives," "checks for sex crimes and child abuse records," and "securing an independent office and submitting a lease agreement." Even after a registration certificate is issued, qualification is maintained only if mandatory annual training is completed.
The system was put into effect in July 2014 to protect entertainers' rights, ensure industry transparency, and prevent an overabundance of agencies. If management services are operated without registering as a popular culture and arts planning business, the operator may face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.
As cases of agencies operating in an unregistered state were revealed one after another, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced it will implement a "unified registration guidance period" for unregistered popular culture and arts planning operators until Dec. 31 to encourage voluntary compliance, and warned of strict measures such as administrative investigations and requests for criminal probes in case of violations. A ministry official said, "This guidance period is an opportunity for the industry to check legal obligations themselves and complete registration through voluntary remedial action," adding, "We will create a transparent and lawful planning and management environment to protect popular culture and arts workers and raise the credibility of the popular culture industry."
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]