[Official] Lee Seung-ki: "Cha Ga-won, 105 billion won jeonse fraud.. planned crime" speaks out

*This content was translated by AI.

Representatives for singer and actor Lee Seung-ki indicated legal action regarding a 10.5 billion won jeonse dispute with Cha Ga-won, chairman of the PIA Group and CEO of One Hundred Label, stating that "this is not merely a civil breach of contract but falls within the realm of criminal offense."

Lawyers Yoon Yong-seok and Jang Jae-won of Hyunmyung Law Firm, representing Lee Seung-ki, issued an official statement on the 6th: "Cha Ga-won's failure to return the jeonse deposit is not simply a case of being unable to repay; it constitutes jeonse fraud, as Cha Ga-won had no intention or ability to return the funds yet still accepted them through deception."

They further argued, "This matter goes beyond the typical scenario where a lessor fails to return a jeonse deposit. It appears that a sophisticated fraud scheme was strategically employed: securing a high-value loan for a famous celebrity, concluding a high-amount jeonse contract, and then misappropriating the funds."

Lee Seung-ki's side claimed that Cha Ga-won's team had anticipated executing a jeonse loan in Lee Seung-ki's name even before signing the lease agreement. They stated: "The property was previously subject to a sale valued at around 7 billion won, but the deal was canceled. Subsequently, Cha Ga-won's side concealed this fact and conducted an appraisal to secure a higher amount than the original sale price for the jeonse contract. In this process, they structured the contract to enable approximately 7.3 billion won in jeonse loans before finalizing the agreement with Lee Seung-ki."

Additionally, "Cha Ga-won and his spouse received ownership of the property from a trust company immediately after receiving the jeonse deposit," they explained. "It appears they planned a fraud scheme by utilizing high-value jeonse loans available to famous celebrities to raise funds needed for acquiring the real estate, with the intent not to return the deposit upon contract expiration."

Lee Seung-ki's side also raised the possibility that multiple individuals, including Cha Ga-won's spouse, a real estate agent, and those involved in loan processing and property appraisal, played roles in the scheme. They noted: "Although Cha Ga-won's legal representatives recently stated to both the court and the artist's team that there were no issues with returning the jeonse deposit, on the contract expiration date, Cha Ga-won's spouse claimed repayment would be difficult due to Cha Ga-won's absence. Relying on this assurance, Lee Seung-ki even prepared for relocation, but related costs have now become part of the damages."

Previously, in 2024, Lee Seung-ki signed a jeonse contract for a villa in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, owned by Cha Ga-won and his spouse, for 10.5 billion won. Lee Seung-ki's side has since claimed that Cha Ga-won demanded a higher-than-market-rate deposit, while Cha Ga-won's side countered that Lee Seung-ki requested a jeonse contract instead of an exclusive performance fee to avoid taxes associated with owning multiple properties.

Meanwhile, Cha Ga-won was arrested on the 3rd on suspicion of fraud involving approximately 30 billion won. Cha (CEO) denies the allegations.

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*This content was translated by AI.