Singer/actor Lee Seung Gi has finally spoken up for the first time in over 28 days, since he first forwarded a legal request to Hook Entertainment, demanding a transparent record of his career earnings.
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Earlier on December 16, Hook Entertainment released a press statement, revealing that the agency had paid Lee Seung Gi a total of 5.4 billion KRW (~ $4.1 million USD), an amount which included unpaid earnings, interest, etc. The agency then claimed that it had fulfilled all due payments to the artist, and intended on legally clearing its name as to settle the exclusive contract violation dispute with Lee Seung Gi as soon as possible.
Now, on the same day, Lee Seung Gi has decided to speak up with his first post on his Instagram since September.
The star wrote:
"It's been a while. Hello, it's Lee Seung Gi.
I haven't exactly been well recently. I was swept up in anger after experiencing betrayal, I became deeply depressed after facing disappointment, I lived in resentment, I lived in self-blame, and these emotions repeated in a cycle day to day.
This morning, I received a notification that about 5 billion KRW had been deposited into my bank. I guess Hook Entertainment thought that I was doing all of this for the money.
A statement of earnings for the distribution of music is a very common thing in this industry, and yet, I have never received one before. And now, they are trying to bring all of these events to a close however they see fit, with the headline, 'All unpaid earnings were paid'.
All this time, I had no idea that there were earnings from my music. All I heard was that I was a 'minus singer', and I endured that for 18-years. The reason why I decided to sue Hook Entertainment was not because of the money. The value of a person's effort, the value of that sweat, should not be used to feed another person's greed. I felt that pursuing legal action was the most dutiful thing I could do.
So I got paid 5 billion KRW. I have no idea how this amount was calculated. But I do not intend on accepting Hook Entertainment's calculation methods without question. So I intend to continue with my lawsuit. I suspect that it will be a wearisome dispute, and to the public who will have to witness it unfold and endure the fatigue, I apologize in advance.
I can promise one thing today. I will donate every bit of money that I get from Hook Entertainment throughout this process. First, starting with the 5 billion KRW I received today, outside of the fees required for the lawsuit, I will return the remaining amount to our society. This isn't something that I decided overnight. The moment that I decided to go against Hook, I decided that I would give this money to those in need.
Because I lived for so long not knowing that I was earning money as a musician, this amount that I was paid today is precious to me. It is the sweat and the effort that I poured into my teens, my twenties, my thirties. But if this money can go to help others in need, I think that in itself would be worth much more than merely 5 billion KRW.
Next week, I intend on meeting with a humanitarian organization to set up plans. There are people who cannot even go about their daily lives because of illnesses. There are people who give up their dreams because of financial difficulties. There are also people who did not receive proper medical care even when their lives were in danger. It may be that this 5 billion KRW is not enough to help all of those people. But it could be one small step toward something.
Last but not least, while I was going through all of these events, so many people sent me encouragement. You were angry for me, and you consoled me, and I gained great strength from your support. Thank you for letting me know once again that I am loved. To return that love in any way that I can, I will give back to society.
I wish you a warm and happy holidays, and I promise you that I will continue to walk my path earnestly.
Source: Allkpop
