[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Seo-young] Singer Yeongtak and Makgeolli manufacturer Yecheon Brewery are engaged in a dispute over trademark rights, and Yecheon Brewery has revealed a memo received from Yeongtak's mother.
On the 25th, MBC's 'True Story Exploration Team' aired a segment about the trademark conflict between Yeongtak and Yecheon Brewery. During the broadcast, Yecheon Brewery disclosed a contract and memo written by Yeongtak's mother, which had not been previously made public. The revealed memo included details such as "15% of the ex-factory price of all products manufactured and sold by Yecheon Brewery except the Yeongtak trademark," "10% stake in Yecheon Brewery," and "contract period of 3 years."
The head of Yecheon Brewery's Seoul branch stated, "We were asked for an enormous amount of money (by Yeongtak's mother)," adding, "I absolutely did not want to be on bad terms with Mr. Yeongtak. Also, it is true that we received help from Yeongtak's side." Baek Gu-young, chairman of Yecheon Brewery, said, "When I first heard Yeongtak's 'Makgeolli Han Jan,' the name 'Yeongtak' immediately came to mind, so I called a patent attorney right then and there," adding, "I told them to file the trademark application immediately if it hadn't been done yet."
Chairman Baek continued, discussing negotiations with Yeongtak's side regarding the advertising model, "At first, the advertising appearance fee started at 60 million won. When we met the following week, it increased to 80 million won." Furthermore, three months later, in April of last year, Yeongtak signed a one-year advertising model contract with Yecheon Brewery for the industry’s highest amount of 160 million won.
Handwritten note and contract of Youngtak's mother that sparked the 15 billion won controversy. [Photo by MBC 'True Story Exploration Team' broadcast screen capture]
However, Yecheon Brewery claimed, "From about two weeks after the product launch, Yeongtak's parents began visiting the factory," and "The demands from Yeongtak's mother increased." They also specified, "Yeongtak's mother, who worships deities, asked the chairman to personally perform a ritual at the well depicted on the Makgeolli trademark," and "They requested two dealerships near Yeongtak's father's hometown free of charge for his retirement life," adding, "They demanded the construction of a 'Yeongtak Promotion Center' in Yeongtak's father's hometown."
Yecheon Brewery further explained, "The situation changed drastically after Yeongtak's mother learned that Yeongtak's personal consent was required to register the Yeongtak trademark." They stated that Yeongtak's side "filed the trademark application directly through the agency, contrary to their promise to provide the consent letter," and "During negotiations for model contract renewal, Yeongtak's mother presented a handwritten memo and a draft contract amounting to 15 billion won."
During the broadcast, the 'True Story Exploration Team' production crew visited singer Yeongtak but was refused an interview. Yeongtak's legal representative responded, "Since legal action is currently underway, it is difficult to comment on the matter," while Yeongtak's agency denied, "There was no demand for 15 billion won from Yecheon Brewery." Yeongtak's agency, New Era Project, filed a criminal complaint against the manufacturer, stating, "Due to Yecheon Brewery's excessive dissemination of false information and defamation, we were forced to take legal action."
Meanwhile, the trademark rights for 'Yeongtak' have only been applied for by both parties and have not been finalized. After negotiations broke down, Yeongtak's mother conveyed that if the trademark were registered, she would negotiate with another company. Yecheon Brewery expressed a desire to shed its image as a malicious company and to prevent the sale of other 'Yeongtak Makgeolli' products.
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