Shocking legal victory: Model and TV personality Lee Si-an, who rose to wider fame on Netflix’s Single's Inferno Season 4, has won her damages lawsuit against her former agency.
According to legal sources on the 22nd, Chief Judge Ha Sang-je of the Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 31 recently ruled against Leaders Entertainment in its damages claim filed against Lee.
Leaders Entertainment had managed Lee Si-an since August 2023. In April 2024, ahead of her appearance on Single's Inferno Season 4, the two sides signed an additional agreement. It stated, among other things, that if Lee appeared on Single's Inferno Season 4, her existing exclusive contract term would be extended by 18 months.
Tensions flared after filming for Single's Inferno Season 4. Leaders Entertainment alleged that starting around September 2024, Lee unilaterally stopped fulfilling her obligations under the exclusive contract and expressed intent to terminate, leading the agency to file suit that December. The company sought liquidated damages and other penalties for breach.
However, the court sided with Lee. The key issue was whether Leaders Entertainment had deceived her about conditions tied to her Single's Inferno Season 4 appearance.
The court took issue with the agency’s explanations to Lee that “you must have an exclusive management agency to appear on Single's Inferno Season 4” and that “the contract must remain in effect until the broadcast.” The court found no evidence that producers had required such terms as mandatory conditions of the appearance contract.
As a result, the court concluded Leaders Entertainment misled Lee into believing nonexistent appearance conditions applied, causing her to sign the additional agreement under mistake. Under civil law, a declaration of intent made due to fraud or duress can be rescinded; therefore, the supplemental agreement was deemed void.
The court also rejected the agency’s claim for liquidated damages. It held that the supplemental agreement had been lawfully rescinded, and that there was no clear basis to find Lee breached obligations—such as performance commitments—through October 2024.
In short, the agency’s entire damages claim was dismissed. Riding the momentum from her Single's Inferno Season 4 appearance, which boosted her public profile, Lee Si-an secured a decisive advantage in her legal dispute with the agency.
Lee Si-an previously drew attention through appearances on Mnet’s Produce 48 and Idol School, and she regained the spotlight with Single's Inferno Season 4.