[From singer Younha's Instagram]
[From singer Younha's Instagram]

Singer Younha and C9 Entertainment, the agency that helped her write one of K-pop's most celebrated chart-comeback stories with "Event Horizon," are now facing off in court over unpaid settlement funds. Younha terminated her 14-year exclusive contract with C9, citing a prolonged failure to receive settlement payments, and filed a lawsuit seeking about 900 million won ($680,000).

Younha's legal representative, law firm Illo, said Monday that her side had repeatedly demanded that C9 address the long-running non-payment issue, but the agency failed to comply, prompting her to notify C9 of the contract termination in September. According to Illo, C9 also acknowledged through an official letter that the termination took effect Sept. 14.

Younha filed suit against C9 at Seoul Central District Court on Oct. 6, seeking confirmation that her exclusive contract is no longer valid and demanding payment of the outstanding settlement funds. The claimed amount stands at approximately 950 million won. On the same day, she also applied for an injunction to suspend the contract's effect, and the court held a hearing on the injunction Monday with both sides present.

The claimed amount has not been finalized. Legal sources said Younha's side maintains there is a dispute over the settlement details and the calculation method. Her team said it has not received a substantial portion of the underlying documentation beyond the settlement statement C9 provided, and plans to obtain the full records from C9 to determine the exact amount of unpaid funds.

C9 said on SNS that afternoon that the two sides are working through the legal process to resolve points of disagreement in the ongoing settlement lawsuit. "We will respect the court's final ruling and faithfully fulfill any obligations that arise from it," the agency added.

Younha's relationship with C9 began in 2012. She renewed her contract twice and remained with the agency, announcing another renewal in January last year. The 14-year span coincides with the biggest turning point in her musical career: "Event Horizon," released in 2022, climbed back to the top of streaming charts, and the following year won Song of the Year at the 20th Korean Music Awards.

This is not the first time Younha has gone to court over a settlement dispute with an agency. She signed an exclusive contract with Lion Media in 2003 and made her debut in Japan the following year. She later filed suit against Lion Media seeking confirmation that the contract was void, alleging that revenue had not been properly settled and that the contract signed when she was a minor was unfair. Lion Media countersued, seeking 1 billion won in damages.

Younha's team said it intends to resolve the remaining issues through legally established procedures and that she will continue her music career.


shee@heraldcorp.com