While popera tenor Im Hyung-joo's side drew a line over nonpayment of construction fees, the subcontractors collectively rebutted
On the 3rd, the subcontractors collectively said, "Regarding the official position released by Im Hyung-joo's agency, DigiNCom Co., Ltd., the subcontractors who performed the construction work but did not receive payment express deep regret that the facts have been distorted, and based on objective legal grounds, we hereby state the following official position."
The subcontractors collectively first asserted, "It is a clear fact established by the court that EmblaBird Co., Ltd., where Im Hyung-joo serves as an inside director, did not pay more than 800 million won in construction fees to the primary contractor Woongjin Industrial Development Co., Ltd. Nevertheless, Im Hyung-joo's side is misleading the facts by claiming that there are no unpaid amounts from EmblaBird Co., Ltd. and saying that 'this is a problem the primary contractor (Woongjin Industrial Development Co., Ltd.) should resolve,' and they are making the false claim that 'the fees have been paid in full.'"
They went on, "The Im Hyung-joo siblings are the actual operators and persons responsible for the building," and pointed out, "The building is owned by the EmblaBird Co., Ltd. corporation as consignor and revenue recipient, and it was completed with construction fees unpaid. Im Hyung-joo publicly announced on broadcasts that the building is 'a house he built himself' and is living there. While promoting corporate assets as if they were his personal property, claiming only that he is not legally responsible for the liabilities (construction fees) incurred in building it is contradictory."
The subcontractors collectively said, "Over the past three years we have made various efforts to resolve the payment, but EmblaBird Co., Ltd. has not presented any repayment plan. Even after the agency said it 'has the will to resolve' there has been no communication to date. When companies were unable to receive payment, facing the risk of bankruptcy and struggling to make a living, Im Hyung-joo's side moved into the building without consulting anyone and exposed a luxurious lifestyle on broadcasts. After three years of silence, to invoke 'legal action' once media inquiries begin is an intimidating attitude toward small-scale subcontractors," criticizing the three-year stance of neglect and lack of intent to resolve the matter.
The subcontractors collectively said, "EmblaBird Co., Ltd. claims it put the building up for sale for 15.2 billion won to resolve the dispute, but given current real estate market conditions, that amount is practically impossible to transact. This appears not to be an intention to repay through actual sale but an attempt to delay sale and defer debt fulfillment by setting an unrealistic price. If there is sincerity, the company should present an immediate repayment offer according to the court ruling, not an indefinite sale plan," and added, "Im Hyung-joo's side has suggested it could sell the building to pay the fees. However, we emphasize again that the subcontractor fees in this case are not something Im Hyung-joo's side would pay as a favor, but arose because the construction fees that should have been paid were not paid."
Previously it was reported that EmblaBird, where Im Hyung-joo and his sibling serve as inside directors, failed to pay more than 800 million won in construction fees to subcontractors while developing Seoul popera house. In response, Im Hyung-joo's side said regarding the dispute between the primary and subcontractor companies over nonpayment of Seoul popera house construction fees, "(The subcontractors' nonpayment issue) is something company A (the primary contractor), which has already received the construction fees, should resolve with the subcontractors, and it has no relation to Im Hyung-joo."
Below is the full official position of the subcontractors collective
Regarding the official position released by Im Hyung-joo's agency, DigiNCom Co., Ltd., on March 5, 2026, the subcontractors who performed the construction work but did not receive payment express deep regret that the facts have been distorted, and based on objective legal grounds, we hereby state the following official position.
1. It is a clear fact established by the court that EmblaBird Co., Ltd., where Im Hyung-joo serves as an inside director, did not pay more than 800 million won in construction fees to the primary contractor Woongjin Industrial Development Co., Ltd.
Nevertheless, Im Hyung-joo's side is misleading the facts by claiming that there are no unpaid amounts from EmblaBird Co., Ltd. and saying that 'this is a problem the primary contractor (Woongjin Industrial Development Co., Ltd.) should resolve,' and they are making the false claim that 'the fees have been paid in full.'
2. The Im Hyung-joo siblings are the actual operators and persons responsible for the building.
The building is owned by the EmblaBird Co., Ltd. corporation as consignor and revenue recipient, and it was completed with construction fees unpaid. Im Hyung-joo publicly announced on broadcasts that the building is "a house he built himself" and is living there. While promoting corporate assets as if they were his personal property, claiming only that he is not legally responsible for the liabilities (construction fees) incurred in building it is contradictory.
3. Over the past three years they have consistently taken a bystander stance with no will to resolve the issue.
The subcontractors said that over the past three years they made various efforts to resolve payment, but EmblaBird Co., Ltd. presented no repayment plan. Even after the agency said it 'has the will to resolve,' there has been no communication to date. When companies could not receive payment, facing the risk of bankruptcy and struggling to make a living, Im Hyung-joo's side moved into the building without consulting anyone and exposed a luxurious lifestyle on broadcasts. After three years of silence, to invoke 'legal action' once media inquiries begin is an intimidating attitude toward small-scale subcontractors.
4. The claim of a 15.2 billion won sale is a 'stalling' response with markedly little realism.
EmblaBird Co., Ltd. claims it put the building up for sale for 15.2 billion won to resolve the dispute, but given current real estate market conditions, that amount is practically impossible to transact. This appears not to be an intention to repay through actual sale but an attempt to delay sale and defer debt fulfillment by setting an unrealistic price. If there is sincerity, the company should present an immediate repayment offer according to the court ruling, not an indefinite sale plan.
5. Im Hyung-joo's side has suggested it could sell the building to pay the fees. However, we emphasize again that the subcontractor fees in this case are not something Im Hyung-joo's side would pay as a favor, but arose because the construction fees that should have been paid were not paid.
Despite the court ruling, when a debtor shows no intent to repay, the subcontractors' only remaining recourse was single-person protests. To cast this legitimate exercise of rights as 'intentional defamation' or 'malicious reporting' distorts the issue. If Im Hyung-joo's side truly takes the 'duties of a public figure' seriously as stated in their official position, they should promptly present a quick resolution so that the wages of the workers who toiled can be repaid immediately.
April 3, 2026
Seoul popera house construction subcontractors collective<
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