On June 2, “PD Note” aired the episode “MC Mong and the Chairman’s K-pop Business Secrets,” covering allegations surrounding Cha Ga Won and MC Mong, including overseas gambling suspicions, alleged misuse of company funds, and private-life controversies.

Lee Seung Gi’s Billions KRW House Contract Raises Questions

During the broadcast, the program also focused on luxury villas owned by Cha Ga Won and her husband. According to “PD Note,” four unsold units in a high-end villa were reportedly owned by the couple, while celebrities including Lee Seung Gi and EXO’s Baekhyun were living there under large jeonse contracts.

The reported amounts immediately drew attention: Lee Seung Gi’s jeonse deposit was 10.5 billion KRW, while Baekhyun’s was 16 billion KRW. Real estate appraiser Jo Jung Heun reacted strongly after reviewing the registration documents, saying he had never seen a register like it before. He questioned whether such loans would have been approved if the debtors had not been celebrities like Lee Seung Gi or Baekhyun.

The program claimed that after the celebrity jeonse loans were arranged, the loan amount increased more than three times compared to the previous maximum bond amount under Cha Ga Won and her husband’s names. The loan was reportedly issued through a fisheries cooperative in Wando, South Jeolla Province.

Lee Seung Gi later explained his side through a statement sent to “PD Note.”
He claimed Cha Ga Won repeatedly encouraged him and his wife to move into the unit above her home, saying she wanted to live nearby and rely on them emotionally. “She said the house upstairs was empty and continuously asked our couple to move in through jeonse, saying she wanted to live close and depend on us. We refused several times, but she appealed by saying she had no one to rely on.”

Lee Seung Gi said he eventually moved in quickly, but the exact jeonse amount was not finalized at first because the appraisal was allegedly delayed. Then came the shocking part. “Right after we moved in, she demanded a jeonse deposit that was more than three times higher than the amount first mentioned.”

Lee Seung Gi’s legal representative also stated that the actual contract amount rose several times higher than the deposit first discussed. When asked why, the other side allegedly explained that the property had been appraised at 16 billion KRW. Cha Ga Won responded by saying she had personally paid interest worth several hundred million KRW per month for three years. However, “PD Note” reported that the interest was not being paid with her personal money but with company funds and that celebrities had reportedly been covering the payments for several months.

Lee Seung Gi also mentioned the issue in his statement, saying Cha had promised to cover the loan interest until the end. He added that, seeing how she allegedly failed to pay the promised interest later, she did not appear to have money.

Appraiser Compares The Case To Jeonse Fraud Methods

Appraiser Jo Jung Heun compared the structure to a method often seen in jeonse fraud cases. “This is a method scammers used often in jeonse fraud cases. They set the jeonse price as high as possible and say they will pay the interest. If the landlord says they will pay it, the tenant thinks they have no money going out. If they provide a guarantee, give the loan, and pay the interest, it seems good for the tenant too. Many tenants entered homes like that and were scammed.”

Before the broadcast aired, Cha Ga Won’s side filed for an injunction, claiming the “PD Note” interview had been filmed without prior consent and maliciously edited. They alleged serious violations of portrait and voice rights, as well as defamation through distorted editing.

However, the court rejected the injunction request. MC Mong also strongly criticized “PD Note” on social media and announced plans to file a 100 billion KRW damages lawsuit against the program.

The controversy has now expanded beyond MC Mong and Cha Ga Won’s private allegations, pulling Lee Seung Gi and Baekhyun into public discussion over celebrity jeonse loans, high-value real estate deals, and the alarming comparison to jeonse fraud methods.

Sources: Daum | 스포티비뉴스