Actor Hwang Jung-eum, who is on probation for embezzlement of 4.3 billion won, has been accused of still operating the corporation as an unregistered one-person agency, and her former agency also showed signs of cutting ties.
On the 8th, Hwang Jung-eum's former agency, Y1 Entertainment, said in a press release that the company notified actor Hwang Jung-eum of contract termination on Nov. 27, 2025, and that notification was accepted, officially stating that the exclusive contract between the two parties has already ended.
It added that accordingly the company makes it clear that it has no involvement or responsibility for Hwang Jung-eum's current or future activities, personal matters, or any related issues, and that it will not make any further statements or responses regarding this matter.
Around noon that day, suspicions were raised that Hwang Jung-eum was still operating the one-person agency corporation, which had earlier been involved in allegations of embezzling funds in the 4.3 billion won range, without registration. In response to mounting inquiries, Y1 Entertainment announced the termination of the exclusive contract with Hwang Jung-eum and sought to draw a line.
Under the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act, a corporation that manages earnings from entertainment activities or performs functions such as appearance contracts and management must register as a planning business. In this regard, the actions of various singers and actors who established separate one-person agencies aside from the agency with which they had exclusive contracts have been controversial. Relatedly, singers Ok Joo Hyun, Sung Si Kyung, and actors Lee Ha-nee and Yoo Ah-in issued official statements and registered their corporations belatedly, but Hwang Jung-eum was accused of not complying.
Moreover, the corporation was accused of Hwang Jung-eum having withdrawn 4.34 billion won from the one-person agency corporation as temporary payments over about a year from 2022, and of using about 4.2 billion won of that for cryptocurrency investments and personal card payments, leading to a trial last year. As a result, she was sentenced to two years in prison with a four-year suspended sentence. Nevertheless, operating the one-person agency without registration has caused renewed controversy.
The following is the full official statement from Y1 Entertainment on the termination of Hwang Jung-eum's exclusive contract.
Hello. This is Y1 Entertainment.
We are issuing the company's official position regarding the Hwang Jung-eum-related issues reported today.
Y1 Entertainment notified actor Hwang Jung-eum of contract termination on Nov. 27, 2025, and that notification was accepted, so the exclusive contract between the two parties has already ended.
Accordingly, the company makes it clear that it has no involvement or responsibility for Hwang Jung-eum's current or future activities, personal matters, or any related issues, and that it will not make any further statements or responses regarding this matter.
Thank you.<
[Photo] OSEN DB.
[OSEN]