Disciplinary Committee: "A Clear Violation Disrupting Industry Order"
On December 29, the Special Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Korea Entertainment Management Association (Yeonmaehyup) announced that it will strongly urge the relevant authorities to impose severe penalties and will take a firm stance regarding the cases of unregistered operation of popular culture and arts planning businesses by well-known celebrities.
The committee criticized the recent revelations in the media about celebrities operating one-person or family-run agencies without registration, stating, "This is a clear violation of the Act on the Development of the Public Culture and Arts Industry and a serious issue that undermines the sound customs and order of the industry."
According to an exclusive report by The Asia Business Daily, 17 prominent celebrities-including Kang Dongwon, Song Gain, Kim Wansun, Song Kangho, Song Yoona, Choi Soojong, Sol Kyunggu, Park Narae, Sung Sikyung, Lee Hanee, Nam Heeseok, Lee Jihye, Jobin, Bada, Jung Ilwoo, Ok Joohyun, and CL-have been found to have operated their agencies without registration for periods ranging from several months to over 10 years, sparking controversy.
The committee declared a zero-tolerance policy regarding unregistered business activities in the field of popular culture and arts planning. The committee stated, "More than 10 years have passed since the Act on the Development of the Public Culture and Arts Industry came into effect on July 28, 2014, and it is unacceptable for well-known celebrities, who are expected to comply with the law, to violate it." They emphasized, "Even if registration was completed belatedly, severe punishment must be imposed without any leniency for the period during which the agency was operated illegally in the past."
Going forward, the committee plans to utilize all available legal means, including receiving public interest reports on unregistered business activities, filing complaints with the relevant authorities, and petitioning for strict punishment. They added that, in particular, retroactive complaints will also be filed against those who rushed to register their agencies after the recent controversy arose.
The Yeonmaehyup Disciplinary Committee was established in 2009 to mediate disputes and build a self-regulatory system within the popular culture industry. It serves as a dispute mediation body, handling conflicts related to exclusive contracts and engaging in activities to purify the popular culture and arts planning industry.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
