Singer Song Gain was cleared of charges related to failing to register a one-person agency.
On the 20th, Song Gain's agency said she was cleared of the charge of failing to register a one-person agency. However, the agency representative Mr. A and the corporation were found to have the charges upheld and were sent to the prosecution on the 16th.
Song Gain established the one-person agency GainDal Entertainment on Sept. 1, 2024, and listed Song Gain's older brother as an inside director. However, last year it was revealed that GainDal Entertainment had not registered as a popular culture and arts planning business, sparking controversy.
Under the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act, corporations and individual entertainers operating as more than one-person sole proprietors must register as popular culture and arts planning businesses to operate, and violating this by operating without registration is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.
After it was revealed that the company had not registered as a popular culture and arts planning business, JG Star, which manages Song Gain, said, "Song Gain intended to establish GainDal Entertainment as a one-person agency and operate, but she signed an exclusive contract with our company and is active as one of our artists. After the one-person agency was set up, JG Star took over management duties and was not aware of that aspect," adding, "A GainDal Entertainment representative plans to submit a registration application today."
Later, Song Gain and GainDal Entertainment representative Mr. A were accused of failing to register as a popular culture and arts planning business, and it was reported that Song Gain testified during police questioning that she had not been involved at all in operating her one-person entertainment agency.
The police noted that Song Gain was not listed as an executive in the agency's registry and did not hold any equity, and they determined she was a protected subject under the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act and decided not to indict. However, Mr. A and GainDal Entertainment were sent to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on charges of violating the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act.
In connection with this, Mr. A apologized, saying, "This happened out of ignorance, and I will be more thorough going forward," and added, "We will actively cooperate with all future investigative processes."
Meanwhile, Song Gain will hold concerts "GainDal The Chaoreuda" at Pechanga Theater in Los Angeles on Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 15 at 6 p.m., promoting the trot genre widely.
[Photo] OSEN DB
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