[Sportschosun Baek Ji-eun] The situation surrounding One Hundred Label is becoming increasingly complicated. Employees are complaining that they are struggling to make ends meet and demanding unpaid wages and severance pay, while Cha Ga-won, chairman of Piak Group and CEO of One Hundred, continues to express anger toward Lee Seung-gi and investigative authorities. MC Mong, meanwhile, has been caught up in allegations that he received gifts worth 10.3 billion won.
Hyun Dong-yeop, a lawyer at Hwagum Law Firm and legal representative for Cha, said on the 17th that Cha had filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), citing human rights violations during the investigation by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation Unit Financial Crime Investigation Team and infringement of constitutionally guaranteed basic rights.
Cha's side claimed that, immediately after the questioning began, investigators treated consultations and advice from defense counsel as obstruction of the investigation and even mentioned removing the lawyer during interrogation. They also argued that the investigators effectively violated Article 244(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act, which guarantees the right to correct or supplement statements, by saying testimony could not be changed later. In addition, they said the investigation appeared to be a predetermined operation, alleging that statements favorable to Cha or relevant practical context were omitted or minimized, and that witness testimony was recorded in the report in the opposite way.
Cha is currently facing an arrest warrant request on charges that he proposed a business using the intellectual property of artists under his agency to Knowmerce Corp., received a 24.2 billion won advance payment, and failed to carry out the deal. Cha has denied all allegations.
Against this backdrop, Cha also voiced anger toward Lee Seung-gi. On the 16th, employees of One Hundred, Big Planet Made Entertainment, and INB100 released a statement saying that Cha's side had mocked and ridiculed victims by telling them to sign a non-punishment petition if they wanted to receive unpaid wages and other money. Cha then claimed, "It was led by Lee Seung-gi's manager."
Separately, after Lee Seung-gi posted photos related to his film About Family on the 17th, referring to the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Cha said, "Lee Seung-gi should practice non-attachment and living with nothing, and I hope he returns everything he received from Chairman Cha Ga-won."
Separately, MC Mong is facing allegations that he received gifts worth 10.3 billion won from Cha, including luxury watches, jewelry, imported cars, home appliances, and furniture. MC Mong has not issued any statement on the matter.
Baek Ji-eun, Sportschosun silk781220@sportschosun.com
