▲ This photo of singer Kim Da-hyun is provided by Hyun Company. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Feb. 4 (Yonhap) -- Singer Kim Da-hyun, 17, has taken legal action against her former agency, claiming she was not paid appearance fees and other earnings.

 

Hyun Company, Kim’s current agency, said Wednesday that Kim earlier this month filed a criminal complaint with Gangnam Police Station in Seoul against the former agency’s CEO, identified only as A, and the head of its parent company, B, on charges of fraud and embezzlement.

 

The agency added that it also filed a petition with the Seoul Central District Court in late January seeking a payment order for the unpaid settlement amount.

 

Hyun Company claimed that the former agency failed to pay Kim appearance fees and other income from events and activities since around September to October last year. The unpaid amount is reportedly in the hundreds of millions of won.

 

“Despite repeatedly requesting settlement from the former agency since November last year, no payment was made, and it has become difficult to expect any meaningful negotiations,” Hyun Company said. “Legal action was unavoidable to protect the rights and emotional well-being of a teenage artist.”

 

Yonhap News attempted to contact the former agency several times for comment but received no response.

 

Kim gained recognition after winning the top prize at the 2019 "KBS Pansori Children’s Grand Competition" and went on to appear in a series of trot audition programs, including "Voice Trot" and "Miss Trot 2."

 

She was also active with her older sister Kim Do-hyun as the “Cheonghakdong Gugak Sisters.” Kim began her solo career in 2020 and moved to Hyun Company in November last year.

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