Actress Hwang Jung-eum has personally addressed the escalating controversy over her one-person agency allegedly operating without registering as a popular culture and arts planning business.
On the 9th, through an official statement, Hwang detailed the operating structure and registration process for Hun Min Jeong Eum Entertainment, where she serves as CEO. Hwang said, "Hun Min Jeong Eum Entertainment has been run as a one-person company, and we have received various outsourced services related to the popular culture and arts business from my former agency, Y1 Entertainment."
She continued, "Because of this setup, we determined that the corporation had not directly performed management duties or the popular culture and arts planning business for me as its artist, and therefore believed separate business registration was not required."
However, with a string of recent cases involving unregistered entertainer-owned corporations sparking debate, she said she reassessed the situation. "I concluded it would be better to establish more legally stable procedures," Hwang explained. "We began the registration process in November last year and completed all required training courses." She added, "Registration for the popular culture and arts planning business is not a permit or license but a filing process that is finalized after submitting the necessary documents and verification. The procedure is now in its final stage and will be completed soon."
Regarding the controversy, Hwang said, "This all stems from my poor judgment. I ask for your understanding, given the circumstances, and I sincerely apologize for causing concern for any reason."
Earlier, Hwang was brought to trial on charges of embezzling approximately 4.3 billion won from a one-person agency corporation she wholly owns. She received a two-year prison sentence suspended for four years. After that verdict, allegations surfaced that the corporation had been operating without registering for the popular culture and arts planning business, fueling further controversy.
Meanwhile, her former agency Y1 Entertainment stated that its exclusive contract with Hwang ended on November 27 last year and that it has no further involvement or responsibility regarding this matter.