A significant legislative move has been made in the entertainment industry with the passing of the “Lee Seung-gi Incident Prevention Law,” designed to ensure that entertainers receive fair treatment from their agencies. This law mandates that entertainment companies must provide their artists with detailed accounting information at least once a year. The bill was passed by the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on September 5th, and it will now be referred to the Legislative Judicial Council for further review.

Legislation Background

The amendment to the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act was initially proposed during the 21st National Assembly but failed to advance due to the expiration of the Assembly’s term. The new bill, however, revises key points to ensure greater transparency and fairness in the entertainment industry.

One of the most important changes is that the frequency of disclosure of accounting details, initially set as “more than once a year,” will now be determined by presidential decree. This allows for flexibility in adjusting the reporting requirements as needed, ensuring that artists are properly compensated for their work.

Key Points of the “Lee Seung-gi Incident Prevention Law”

The legislation, now referred to as the “Lee Seung-gi Incident Prevention Law,” focuses on eliminating unfair practices in the entertainment industry. Its main provisions include:

• Mandatory Accounting Disclosure: Entertainment companies are required to provide accounting details and remuneration information to their artists regularly, at least once a year. This must also be provided upon the artist’s request.
• Protection of Youth Celebrities: Special provisions have been made to protect the rights of young entertainers. This includes limits on working hours, bans on excessive appearance management, and protection against coercive behaviors that could pose risks to their health and safety. Additionally, any violations of their right to education, such as forcing school absences, are prohibited.
• Improved Artist Rights: The law aims to safeguard the rights of artists and ensure they are fairly compensated for their creative contributions to popular culture.

Origin of the Legislation: The Lee Seung-gi Case

The new law takes its name from Lee Seung-gi, a popular South Korean singer and actor who became the center of controversy in 2022. Lee Seung-gi revealed that he had not received any settlement from his agency for 18 years, despite repeated requests for accounting details. His case highlighted widespread issues in the entertainment industry, where many artists struggle to receive fair compensation for their work.

The issue escalated into a legal battle, as Lee Seung-gi demanded that his agency settle the unpaid amounts. The controversy drew significant public attention and ultimately led to the creation of this law, which seeks to prevent similar injustices in the future.

Youth Celebrity Protection

One of the most critical components of the law is the protection of young celebrities. Under the new regulations:

• Working Hours: The upper limit of working hours for youth celebrities will be lowered, ensuring that they are not overworked.
• Appearance Management: Excessive appearance management practices will be prohibited, preventing agencies from placing unreasonable demands on young artists.
• Health and Safety: The law bans any actions that could harm a young celebrity’s health, including verbal abuse, physical assault, and sexual harassment.
• Education Rights: The law emphasizes the importance of education by banning practices that force youth celebrities to miss school or drop out, ensuring they can continue their studies while pursuing their careers.

The “Lee Seung-gi Incident Prevention Law” aims to create a more transparent and fair environment for all entertainers, particularly those who have long been vulnerable to exploitation by their agencies.

Industry Impact

This new law is expected to have a substantial impact on the South Korean entertainment industry, which has been facing increasing scrutiny in recent years. By enforcing transparency and protecting the rights of both adult and youth celebrities, the law could set a precedent for similar reforms in other entertainment markets.

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