Actress Seo Hyo Rim has become a victim of an extended payment war with her ex-agency MAGIQ, not receiving her own money for more than four years.
Although the decision of the hearing was clearly in favor of the actress, she is still unable to receive the ₩120 million (nearly $84,000) she is owed.
Actress Seo Hyo Rim may be best known for her parts in the drama The Red Sleeve and the film In Dream. She has not been paid for her role in a variety of programs and advertisements from May 2021 to July 2022.
A lawsuit for the collection of money was filed in 2022, and the amount was about ₩89 million ($62,000). According to the hearing, the money had to be handed over; however, it has not materialized.
Seo's representatives later told Dispatch about their frustration with the company constantly stating that they could not pay.
"Despite the court ruling, they keep repeating that they're 'unable to pay'," a spokesperson stated. "They promise to pay a little each month or when they get a lump sum, but it's just delaying tactics."
In October 2022, Seo hastened her third time filing a petition for arbitration with KEMA's Sanctions and Ethics Committee. She alleged embezzlement and hoped for the rapid return of the funds she had earned.
A KEMA representative confirmed they are reviewing materials from both parties and emphasized the importance of resolving such payment disputes in the entertainment industry.
In response to the ongoing situation, CEO Kim Sun-ok acknowledged the financial difficulties faced by MAGIQ. "It's not that we won't pay; we simply can't," she explained.
According to Kim, they were willing to pay little by little or monthly, but the Seo's party rejected the proposal. She expects the decision of the Committee and plans to act in accordance with it.
"Our financial situation has been tough," Kim continued. "Unforeseen circumstances have delayed repayment. I want to resolve this quickly, but frequent media coverage affects our current roster of actors, making the situation even harder."
The actress is not the first to face such issue. Not so long ago, a petition was also filed against late Kim Soo Mi's agency for not paying her appearance in the musical "Mom."
It is about ₩160 million (nearly $112,000) in this instance.
