On September 18, TenAsia exclusively reported that CL, former leader of legendary K-pop group 2NE1, has been operating her personal agency Very Cherry without proper registration as a cultural content business for nearly five years.
Founded in 2020, Very Cherry was established as CL’s one-person label to manage her solo career. However, according to industry sources, the company failed to officially register as a popular culture and arts planning business, a legal requirement in South Korea for agencies handling artist management and entertainment activities.
A representative from Very Cherry admitted the oversight, telling TenAsia: “We recently confirmed the unregistered status and recognize the seriousness of the issue. The registration process is currently being expedited.”
The revelation comes amid increasing industry scrutiny of one-person agencies run by celebrities themselves. Similar cases have recently emerged involving Ock Joo-hyun, Sung Si-kyung, Song Ga-in, and Kang Dong-won. Both Ock Joo-hyun and Sung Si-kyung’s agencies are currently under police investigation following formal complaints.
Under the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act, corporations or sole proprietors above a certain scale must register if they are engaged in artist management or entertainment business operations. Failure to comply can result in up to two years in prison or fines of up to 20 million KRW (≈ $15,000 USD).
In response to the wave of unregistered cases, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) has announced a grace period until December 31, 2025, urging companies to voluntarily comply. After this period, unregistered agencies may face administrative investigations and criminal referrals.
With CL now under the spotlight, the controversy highlights the ongoing challenges of legal compliance in Korea’s rapidly evolving entertainment industry, particularly as more artists choose to manage their own careers through personal labels.
Sources: Daum
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