{"id":742,"date":"2025-09-22T04:30:32","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T04:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/?p=742"},"modified":"2025-09-22T04:32:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T04:32:09","slug":"police-launch-investigations-into-kang-dong-won-cl-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/police-launch-investigations-into-kang-dong-won-cl-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Police Launch Investigations into Kang Dong Won, CL, &amp; More"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Major figures in the Korean entertainment world are under investigation. Actor Kang Dong Won, singer CL, and Trot star Song Ga In are facing scrutiny from Korean authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are suspected of operating or conducting business via entertainment agencies that lack proper registration under South Korea\u2019s Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image uagb-block-e58acbe3 wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-none\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-17.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-743\" width=\"821\" height=\"487\" title=\"Screenshot (17)\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-7905fba7\"><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/police-launch-investigations-into-kang-dong-won-cl-more\/#What_The_Law_Requires\" title=\"What The Law Requires\">What The Law Requires<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/police-launch-investigations-into-kang-dong-won-cl-more\/#Who_Is_Under_Investigation\" title=\"Who Is Under Investigation\">Who Is Under Investigation<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/police-launch-investigations-into-kang-dong-won-cl-more\/#Triggering_the_Investigation\" title=\"Triggering the Investigation\">Triggering the Investigation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/police-launch-investigations-into-kang-dong-won-cl-more\/#Previous_ActorActress_Scandals_Similar_To_This_Issue\" title=\"Previous Actor\/Actress Scandals Similar To This Issue\">Previous Actor\/Actress Scandals Similar To This Issue<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/police-launch-investigations-into-kang-dong-won-cl-more\/#How_These_Issues_Affect_the_Industry_as_a_Whole\" title=\"How These Issues Affect the Industry as a Whole\">How These Issues Affect the Industry as a Whole<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/police-launch-investigations-into-kang-dong-won-cl-more\/#What_the_Celebrities_Have_Said_So_Far\" title=\"What the Celebrities Have Said So Far\">What the Celebrities Have Said So Far<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"uagb-heading-text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_The_Law_Requires\"><\/span>What The Law Requires<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Under Article 26 of the Act, any company or individual agency handling popular culture or arts planning must register officially if they manage entertainers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The law aims to ensure transparency, fair contracts, and protection of artists\u2019 rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Violations can lead to penalties, including up to two years in prison or fines up to 20 million KRW (around USD $14,000-15,000), depending on severity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-e68eb3f7\"><h2 class=\"uagb-heading-text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_Is_Under_Investigation\"><\/span>Who Is Under Investigation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Kang Dong Won<\/strong> (actor)<br>His case has been assigned to the Yongsan Police Station. He founded AA Group in 2023 after leaving YG Entertainment. The accusation is that AA Group is registered only as a clothing distributor, not as a business in cultural content or arts planning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CL<\/strong> (idol, formerly of 2NE1)<br>Also under investigation by the Yongsan Police Station. She is signed with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chaelincl.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Very Cherry agency<\/a>. The suspicion is that her management entity, like Kang Dong Won\u2019s, has not completed proper registration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Song Ga In<\/strong> (trot singer)<br><span style=\"margin: 0px;padding: 0px\">Seocho Police Station handles her case<\/span>. Her agency, GainDal Entertainment, is also being questioned for not finalizing registration, though her management partner claims they believed existing registration covered their operations.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-ca855c97\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Triggering_the_Investigation\"><\/span>Triggering the Investigation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The probe started when a private citizen filed complaints. These alleged that Kang Dong Won, CL, Song Ga In, and Kim Wan Sun failed to meet the legal duty to register their agencies under the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Authorities then assigned each case to local police precincts depending on where the agencies are registered or operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-27ab7f6c\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Previous_ActorActress_Scandals_Similar_To_This_Issue\"><\/span>Previous Actor\/Actress Scandals Similar To This Issue<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This is not the first time this issue has arisen. Other entertainers came under fire for similar registration lapses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ock Joo Hyun<\/strong><br>Her unregistered agency case brought attention to the issue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sung Si Kyung<\/strong><br>He also issued an apology, explaining that his failure to register was not intended for income concealment or tax evasion. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism later allowed a grace period for compliance until <strong>December 31, 2025<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-c94f287e\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_These_Issues_Affect_the_Industry_as_a_Whole\"><\/span>How These Issues Affect the Industry as a Whole<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Registering agencies is not just a bureaucratic step. It underlies artist protection, contract fairness, clear tax obligations, and industry integrity. When high-profile artists are seen operating outside those structures, the public\u2019s trust can weaken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also creates precedents. If these investigations lead to penalties or stricter enforcement, smaller agencies and individual stars will have to take compliance more seriously. Fans may expect more transparency. And the laws may be applied more evenly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-b3aa386c\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_the_Celebrities_Have_Said_So_Far\"><\/span>What the Celebrities Have Said So Far<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the implicated artists have begun to respond. Reports say Kang Dong Won\u2019s AA Group has already started the necessary registration process following media scrutiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Song Ga In\u2019s agency has said it believed existing registration covered their operations and pledged to correct any lacking formalities. Sung Si Kyung, in an earlier similar case, apologized publicly to clarify the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to stay in the loop with the latest K-pop and K-drama developments? Check out <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/\" title=\"Saranghero\">Saranghero<\/a><\/strong> for daily updates, breaking news, and exclusive insights.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Major figures in the Korean entertainment world are under investigation. Actor Kang Dong Won, singer CL, and Trot star Song [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":743,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kdrama","category-kpop"],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-17.png",821,487,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-17-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-17-300x178.png",300,178,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-17-768x456.png",768,456,true],"large":["https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-17.png",821,487,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-17.png",821,487,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-17.png",821,487,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Paola","author_link":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/author\/paolalimingmail-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Major figures in the Korean entertainment world are under investigation. Actor Kang Dong Won, singer CL, and Trot star Song [&hellip;]","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/742","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=742"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/742\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":746,"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/742\/revisions\/746"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/743"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saranghero.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}