Sung Sikyung’s Agency Comes Clean
Ballad king Sung Sikyung may be known for his smooth vocals, but his agency just hit a legal sour note. The singer’s agency, SK Jaewon, confirmed it operated without proper registration for a whopping 14 years—and they’ve issued a formal apology.
Wait, What Happened?
On May 16, SK Jaewon told Korean media outlets that they established their company in 2011, well before Korea passed a new law in 2014 that required entertainment management companies to be officially registered as part of the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act. The catch? They didn’t realize the law applied to them—and never registered.
“We lacked awareness and preparation regarding the regulation,” SK Jaewon admitted. “We’ve now recognized the oversight and are in the process of completing the necessary registration.”
So, What’s the Legal Beef?
In Korea, agencies representing singers, actors, models, and other pop culture artists are required by law to register as popular culture and arts planning businesses. Dodging that requirement? It can land you up to 2 years in prison or a ₩20 million (about $15,000) fine. SK Jaewon had only registered as a concert planning company—all while managing Sikyung’s career behind the scenes.
Family Ties & Red Tape
SK Jaewon isn’t just any company—it was founded by Sung Sikyung’s older sister in 2011, designed to manage his solo career. Unfortunately, that family bond didn’t include a family lawyer, apparently. The company apologized wholeheartedly, saying, “We sincerely regret causing concern and plan to fully comply with regulations moving forward.”
The Damage Control Plan
As of now, SK Jaewon is rushing to complete its overdue paperwork. “We’re doing everything we can to quickly finish the registration process and legally operate as required,” they stated.
What’s Next for Sung Sikyung?
While Sikyung himself hasn’t commented, fans are less concerned about red tape than they are about whether this hiccup will affect his music schedule. Spoiler alert: It probably won’t. But you can bet other small, artist-founded labels are taking notes—and maybe printing out the law.
Final Note
For now, it’s less scandal and more speed bump. Still, it’s a lesson in paperwork—even for soothing balladeers with velvet voices. Agencies in K-pop and beyond, double-check your files… the law doesn’t care if your CEO is your sibling.
