Taemin, Baekhyun, Chen, Xiumin, and THE BOYZ artists under interconnected music labels are facing a crisis that could severely limit their activities. Numerous companies that worked with these artists have not been paid, and some are now suffering from financial hardship and mental distress. At the center of the controversy is one woman: Cha Ga-won, CEO of One Hundred, Big Planet Made Entertainment, and INB100.
According to an investigation released on February 5, Cha Ga-won failed to pay many companies essential to artist operations, including album production, content creation, hair and makeup, and marketing agencies. Shockingly, even stage set fees for music show appearances by her artists remain unpaid.
“I did nothing wrong, yet I became a debtor. I turned into a liar to people who trusted me,” said A, a vendor who worked with Cha’s companies. Months later, A discovered their bank account had been seized due to unpaid national health insurance fees. With a child to support, they sold their car and took out loans just to survive. The cause of this collapse was Cha Ga-won’s unpaid payments.
Why Only Digital Singles? Massive Non-Payment to Vendors
Cha Ga-won reportedly owes billions of won to numerous vendors, including printing companies essential for physical album production, as well as production, marketing, and styling teams. As a result, artists under her labels are unable to release physical albums, and even digital releases suffer from weak promotion and limited activities.
In fact, after THE BOYZ’s 10th mini album and VIVIZ’s first full album in July last year, followed by Chen’s fifth mini album in September, no physical albums have been released for five consecutive months by artists under One Hundred, Big Planet Made, or INB100. Since then, Taemin, THE BOYZ, BADVILLAIN, Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Lee Seung-gi have released only digital singles.
Albums are the biggest gift to fans and the most stable revenue source for agencies. Yet THE BOYZ released a digital single with three tracks last December without a music video. Even their special unit release in November lacked a music video.
While these decisions could be framed as artistic choices, the timing coincides with Cha Ga-won being pressed by multiple vendors for unpaid invoices. More than a dozen companies have confirmed outstanding payments totaling billions of won. Some have sent legal notices, and others are preparing lawsuits, though many remain cautious about speaking out publicly to avoid reputational damage.
Unpaid Stage Fees: Will Artists Be Barred from Music Shows?
Cha Ga-won has already been sued on fraud charges under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes and is also accused of failing to settle payments owed to her own artists. Her unpaid obligations reportedly extend to broadcasting stations.
When artists appear on music shows such as MBC’s Show! Music Core and Mnet’s M Countdown, agencies often pay for custom stage sets. Cha Ga-won allegedly failed to pay these fees, with unpaid balances accumulating since the second half of last year. If unresolved, this could block her artists from appearing on these programs.
An industry insider said, “Temporary delays happen with small agencies, but it’s extremely unusual for a large company with multiple artists to repeatedly fail to pay stage fees. This can disrupt the activities of all artists involved.”
Artists under Cha’s companies include THE BOYZ, Taemin, Lee Mujin, VIVIZ, BADVILLAIN, Lee Seung-gi, and EXO members Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin. All now face the risk of losing access to music shows one of the most vital platforms for artist–fan interaction.
Cha Ga-won’s Abnormal Management Leaves Some Facing Financial Ruin
Cha Ga-won’s companies have reportedly earned tens of billions of won by exploiting artists’ intellectual property through concerts, broadcasts, and events. Yet payments owed to vendors remain unpaid. Financial records indicate capital impairment across her companies, while Cha herself has reportedly had personal assets seized over unpaid taxes.
Meanwhile, many vendors especially smaller ones are struggling to survive. Vendor A revealed, “I never received payment even once for the work I did. I still have to pay the people who worked with me, but I have no face to see them.”
Another source said many victims are reluctant to pursue lawsuits due to industry pressure and the need to keep working to survive.
In response, Cha Ga-won’s side stated, “We are currently reviewing the facts regarding these matters. Once confirmed, we will proceed with settlement and resolution procedures at the company level.”
Until then, uncertainty continues to loom over major K-pop artists and the many unseen workers whose livelihoods depend on unpaid promises.
Sources: Naver
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