[Exclusive]Possible Settlement? Lee Moo-jin Sues Big Planet for 2.1 Billion Won; Case Referred to Mediation

*This content was translated by AI.

The court has ordered the transfer of a lawsuit filed by Lee Moo-jin, a singer from JTBC's "Sing Again," against his agency Big Planet Made Entertainment (hereinafter referred to as Big Planet), to mediation.

According to an investigation by StarNews, the 28th Civil Division (Da) of Seoul Central District Court had scheduled the trial date for Lee Moo-jin's lawsuit seeking a declaration that the validity of his exclusive contract with Big Planet is non-existent, valued at approximately 2.1 billion won, for August 27. However, the court canceled this schedule and decided to refer the case to mediation.

Referral to mediation is a procedure in which parties resolve their dispute through mutual understanding. It involves a process of reaching an agreement between both sides during mediation sessions.

Lee Moo-jin notified Big Planet of his intention to terminate the exclusive contract last March and subsequently applied for an injunction to suspend the validity of the contract, claiming that he had not received settlement payments for a certain period. Lee Moo-jin signed an exclusive contract with Big Planet in February 2022.

Big Planet is a label under One Hundred Label, a talent agency operated by Cha Ga-won, chairman of the PIA Group, who is currently detained on suspicion of fraud involving hundreds of billions of won. In addition to Lee Moo-jin, there have been issues regarding settlement payments for several other artists under the agency. Previously, singer and actor Lee Seung-gi, girl group VIVIZ, and nine members of The Boyz had all notified their agencies of contract termination or filed lawsuits.

Lee Moo-jin's legal representative stated, "We have not received settlement payments corresponding to the second and third quarters of last year and the first quarter of this year." He further explained, "Although we have already notified the termination of the contract, effectively ending the matter, we filed the lawsuit to obtain an official judgment from the court." In response, Big Planet's representative said, "We have no objection to Lee Moo-jin's claim regarding the suspension of contract validity and intend to accept his request."

Subsequently, the 50th Civil Mediation Division of Seoul Central District Court granted Lee Moo-jin's application for an injunction to suspend the exclusive contract. The court ruled that "until the final judgment in the main lawsuit is issued, the validity of the exclusive contract between Lee Moo-jin and Big Planet shall be suspended." Additionally, the court stated that "Big Planet must not negotiate or sign contracts with third parties, demand entertainment activities against Lee Moo-jin's will, or request third parties to prohibit his activities."

Following this, Lee Moo-jin launched a new label called "Question Mark" under Mound Media, a comprehensive entertainment company, and signed an exclusive contract, signaling a fresh start. The label side expressed, "We are very pleased to have signed an exclusive contract with Lee Moo-jin." They added, "As an all-around artist with outstanding abilities not only as a sincere vocalist but also in songwriting, composition, and arrangement, he continues to resonate deeply with the public. We look forward to this collaboration even more." The label further stated, "We will provide full support so that Lee Moo-jin can continue to freely showcase his unique musical style."

Lee Moo-jin debuted in the entertainment industry in 2018 with the OST "Walk" from the webtoon "Goyang Voice." He gained widespread recognition after appearing on JTBC's competition program "Sing Again" in 2020, where he finished in third place. He has since released numerous hit songs such as "Traffic Light," "It's Snowing," "Episode," and "I Couldn't Find a Reason Not to Propose," establishing his own musical world. Through consistent musical activities, he has solidified his position as an artist.

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*This content was translated by AI.