Singer Seong Si-kyung apologized for illegally running his one-person agency without registering for the pop culture artist management business and said it was unrelated to tax evasion.
Seong posted on his social networking service (SNS) on the 18th, saying, I am truly sorry for causing concern to many people over a matter related to me, and apologized regarding the illegal operation of his one-person agency.
He said, After debuting and moving through various companies and experiencing many things, I founded a one-person agency in 2011, adding that the intent was to slim down size and expense and to do only as much as my ability allowed.
He also said, I failed to recognize in time and comply with the registration system for pop culture artist management, which was introduced in 2014, and wrote that not recognizing the launch of the new system and failing to complete the required training and registration was the company's clear fault, and I deeply reflect on it. He added, We are proceeding quickly with the related registration procedures and will correct the parts that were wrong.
Seong continued, However, I want to make it clear that failing to register had nothing to do with aims such as income omission or tax evasion, and explained, Income has been reported transparently through a tax accountant. He said, This seems to have become an opportunity to look back on myself more strictly, and added, I will be thorough and act responsibly. I am sorry once again for causing concern.
As controversy spread over unregistered operations of one-person agencies by celebrities including Ok Joo-hyun, Gang Dong-won, Song Ga-in, Kim Wan-sun, and CL, on the 18th the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced it would operate a "pop culture artist management business mass registration guidance period" and would request administrative investigations and criminal probes for violations afterward.