Lee Seung Gi has scored another legal victory against his former agency, Hook Entertainment, in their ongoing dispute over unpaid earnings.
On August 28th, the Seoul Central District Court ruled partially in Lee’s favor in a lawsuit seeking payment of earnings generated after the termination of his exclusive contract.
Lee filed the suit in February, seeking approximately 830 million won in revenue from music and album sales generated after his contract with Hook ended in December 2022. The court ordered the agency to pay him about 690 million won (approx. $513,000).
Hook had argued that it was not obligated to distribute the revenue, citing a clause in Lee’s contract stating that earnings generated after the end of the agreement would be settled through a separate agreement. Since no such agreement had been reached, the agency maintained that it had no obligation to pay him.
The court rejected that argument, noting that the contract stated the earnings “shall be settled” rather than merely allowing for the possibility of settlement. It also found Hook responsible for the termination of Lee’s exclusive contract.
The court, however, awarded Lee a smaller share of the revenue than he had requested. Lee had sought 70% of earnings generated through August 2024, when his original contract was due to expire, and 50% thereafter.
Taking industry practices into account, the court instead set the respective shares at 60% and 40%.
Lee’s legal dispute with Hook began in 2022, when he raised allegations that the agency had failed to properly pay him music revenue. He also prevailed in a related lawsuit in April 2025.
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