Reported to close soon after receiving advance payments from over 100 people
Also appeared in promotional video announcing the opening of the Yeongi Academy
Singer Lim Chang-jung has been embroiled in allegations of closing down a beauty salon after selling memberships, following previous controversy over a drama academy bearing his name. On February 23, Maeil Business Newspaper reported that a beauty salon in Gyeonggi Province, which Lim opened in 2014 under an acquaintance’s name, shut down after allegedly absconding with the money from membership sales. In an interview with the outlet, one of the victims said, "Ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, the salon sold memberships, promising greater discounts than usual," and added, "After collecting money from about 100 local residents who had frequented the salon for the past 10 years, they immediately filed for closure."
It also appears that the designers who worked at the salon did not receive their wages and only learned of the closure afterward. The affected residents are reportedly preparing to file a lawsuit.
Singer Lim Chang-jung has been embroiled in allegations of running away after selling memberships at a beauty salon following controversy over a drama academy bearing his name. [Photo by Yonhap News]
In 2014, Lim Chang-jung appeared on a radio program and mentioned that he had opened a beauty salon in front of his house. He said, "I wanted to get my hair done quickly whenever I had a schedule," and added, "There was no particular reason; it just happened that I opened it with a friend." At the time, he also promoted the salon himself by posting a photo of a flyer on his social media account with the caption, "Looks like I'm opening a hair salon in front of my house! Please stop by on March 25."
Lim Chang-jung, Who Denied Involvement in the Alleged Scam, Previously Claimed "I Created It" in Past Videos
Meanwhile, a past post surfaced in which Lim stated that he personally established the drama academy. On the official social media account of Yes I Am Academy, a video was posted last April announcing the launch of the "Broadcast Acting Master Class," featuring Lim promoting the program. In the video, Lim said, "When I was young, I dreamed of becoming an actor and a singer," and continued, "My other dream was to create a space where I could help juniors with the same dream realize theirs, and now I have achieved that dream." He went on to say, "I have created an academy where I can learn and grow together with you. I am about to launch Yes I Am Academy."
On Lim Chang-jung's official YouTube channel, a video was also uploaded four years ago with the title, "'Even holding auditions myself?' I, Chang-jung, have established a Hollywood-level acting academy! Yes I Am Training Center!" The video shows Lim teaching students and telling them, "Those who graduate from our academy will have many opportunities."
Previously, on February 21, a media outlet reported that Yes I Am Academy had failed to pay actors after a commercial shoot last year. The cast at the time included two adult actors and two child actors. According to the report, the advertiser had paid the academy the full appearance fees, but the academy did not relay the payments to the actors. Furthermore, in another commercial shoot involving one adult actor and three child actors, the appearance fees were reportedly not paid either.
The academy’s former CEO, referred to as Mr. A, stated that after Lim Chang-jung’s stock manipulation controversy in April last year, the academy went bankrupt and was unable to pay over 30 million won in appearance fees. However, he stressed that Lim was not involved in the operation of the academy and was only used as a model.
After these reports surfaced, Lim Chang-jung’s agency, Yes I Am Entertainment, stated on the same day, "Yes I Am Academy is a company completely unrelated to Yes I Am Entertainment and Lim Chang-jung," and added, "The reported issue of unpaid appearance fees also has no connection to Lim Chang-jung."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
