The side of PIAC Group Chairman Cha Ga-won, who heads the entertainment label One Hundred Label, said they will release a separate rebuttal video addressing allegations about Lee Seung Gi’s jeonse (key-money deposit lease) contract raised on MBC’s current affairs program PD Note.
According to OSEN on the 5th, attorney Hyun Dong-yeop, legal representative for Cha Ga-won’s side, stated, “We plan to upload a rebuttal video starting with the Lee Seung Gi case” in connection with the PD Note broadcast. They are reportedly preparing to launch a new YouTube channel for this purpose.
On the June 2 broadcast, PD Note aired an episode titled “MC Mong and the Chairman’s K-Pop Trade Secrets,” spotlighting allegations surrounding MC Mong and Cha Ga-won. The program also mentioned that Lee Seung Gi and EXO’s Baekhyun, both formerly affiliated artists, had moved into a luxury villa in Hannam-dong, Seoul, owned by Cha Ga-won on jeonse contracts.
Lee Seung Gi was reportedly living there on a deposit of KRW 10.5 billion. On the program, Lee’s side claimed they were repeatedly urged by Cha Ga-won’s side to take the jeonse arrangement. They said they declined several times but agreed to move in after Cha pleaded that there was no one else to rely on.
Lee’s side further alleged that the exact jeonse deposit wasn’t finalized at first, and right after the move, they were asked for an amount more than three times higher than initially discussed. Lee’s legal representative said, “The actual contract amount rose significantly from what we were first told,” adding, “When we asked why, we were told an appraisal put the property at KRW 16 billion.”
The two sides also dispute issues over loan interest and management fee settlements. Lee’s side argues Cha’s side failed to keep promises regarding the loan interest. In response, Cha’s side countered, “It seems Lee Seung Gi’s side is mistaken about the jeonse amount.”
Cha’s side reportedly contacted Lee’s team after the broadcast to offer a chance to make corrections and said they were awaiting a response. The previewed rebuttal video is expected to include detailed explanations from Chairman Cha regarding how the jeonse deposit was calculated, as well as matters related to the loan, interest, and management fee settlements.
Amid this, Lee Seung Gi thanked fans for selling out his concert. On June 4, he wrote on his Instagram story, “Everything sold out in just three minutes after opening,” adding, “Thank you so much. I’ll prepare my very best.” Lee will meet fans at his solo concerts on October 24 and 25.
As allegations involving One Hundred and Cha Ga-won continue to spread following PD Note, attention is on how the directly released rebuttal video might sway the ongoing controversy.