Goo Hye Sun Appeals Unpaid Appearance Fees, Demands Rectification from Ex-Husband Ahn Jae Hyun’s Agency

Goo Hye Sun is appealing against her former agency HB Entertainment, Ahn Jae Hyun’s current agency, in a lawsuit regarding unpaid appearance fees.

Goo Hye Sun’s legal representative stated on June 19th, “Goo Hye Sun had a dispute with her former agency over an exclusive contract. There was an arbitration decision accepting Goo Hye Sun’s claim for termination of the exclusive contract and confirmation of its non-existence. However, the arbitration panel ruled that Goo Hye Sun should compensate for some of the expenses related to the agency’s YouTube channel. Goo Hye Sun faithfully complied with the arbitration decision. However, Goo Hye Sun’s appearance on the agency’s YouTube channel occurred before the signing of the exclusive contract, and she appeared without receiving appearance fees, deceived by the agency CEO’s promise of distributing profits.” 

Furthermore, they added, “If Goo Hye Sun is burdened with not receiving appearance fees and even the production costs according to the arbitration decision, it defeats the purpose. Goo Hye Sun filed a separate lawsuit at the end of 2020 with a deep sense of injustice after the arbitration decision.“

Especially, in the verdict issued after a trial that lasted for about two and a half years, the court acknowledged that Goo Hye Sun’s lawsuit does not violate the arbitration decision and is not related to the dispute over the exclusive contract. 

However, the court acknowledged the existence of a profit-sharing agreement between Goo Hye Sun and her former agency but did not make any judgment regarding profit distribution, stating that the agreement is still valid. They countered that it was also wrong to determine that such an agreement is still valid when the exclusive contract has already ended.

The argument is that if the profit-sharing agreement is valid, profit should be distributed, and if the profit-sharing agreement has ended, it is correct to pay the unpaid appearance fees.

Goo Hye Sun’s side stated, “We will soon appeal the decision of the first trial,” emphasizing that the agency’s exploitation of unpaid appearance fees must be brought to attention. They emphasized, “This unfair practice of burdening actors with production costs while taking away the copyright and profits of the content must be rectified. Goo Hye Sun believes it is unjust and aims to correct it through an appeal.“

Earlier, HB Entertainment announced, “On June 15, 2023, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed all baseless claims made by the plaintiff (Goo Hye Sun).“

Source: Daum.