Her one-person agency has been operating for five years now.
2NE1 member CL has gotten embroiled in a significant controversy over the legal status of her personal agency, Very Cherry.
On September 18, KST, TenAsia exclusively reported that CL has been operating the agency without proper registration for five years. CL’s one-person label, Very Cherry, was founded in 2020 to manage her solo career. According to industry insiders, the company failed to officially register itself under the proper business category required for entertainment management companies in South Korea.
As per Article 26 of the Act on the Development of the Popular Culture and Arts Industry, agencies that handle pop culture and arts planning are required to register their business. Failure to do so can result in a prison sentence of up to two years, or a fine of up to ₩20.0 million KRW (about $14,500 USD). Any business activity, including contract signings, conducted without the proper registration, is to be considered illegal and if discovered, may result in a suspension of operations.
A representative from Very Cherry addressed the report, admitting that there was an oversight.
We recently confirmed that our agency was unregistered and recognize the seriousness of the issue. The relevant registration process is currently being expedited.
— Very Cherry
CL is not the only one who has gotten tangled up in such a controversy. Recently, many celebrities, including Ok Joo Hyun, Sung Si Kyung, and Kim Wan Sun have also been found to be running solo agencies without the proper registration.
As a result, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism announced that due to the growing number of such cases, it will allow existing pop culture and arts planning businesses until December 31 to register properly. The Ministry plans to provide guidance on registration procedures and requirements, particularly for those who were unaware of the law, who made administrative errors, or whose agencies were established before the relevant law came into effect.
