Cha Gawon’s Side Responds to Wage Arrears Controversy: “Led by LSG’s Manager… Full Funds for Payment Secured”
Representatives of CEO Cha Gawon have issued a statement regarding the controversy over unpaid wages for employees of One Hundred Label, Big Planet Made Entertainment, and INB100.
Hyun Dongyeop, an attorney at Hwagum Law Firm representing CEO Cha Gawon, issued an official statement on the 16th, saying, “We are providing our official response regarding the statement recently released in the names of employees from the three companies,” and added, “We understand that the statement circulated this time was drafted and distributed under the direction of LSG’s manager.”
On the same day, Attorney Hyun stated, “Our company plans to pay the unpaid wages by the specified deadline in accordance with the corrective orders issued by the labor inspector at the competent Employment and Labor Office, and the funds required for this have already been fully secured,” he also claimed, “Due to the malicious incitement by certain board members who are currently facing charges of embezzlement and breach of trust, our innocent employees are currently unable to receive their rightful wages despite facing financial hardship.”
He continued, “In particular, the CFO in question received three months’ worth of his own salary in advance, even while regular employees were unable to receive theirs,” and pointed out, “Despite being an executive and having only 1 million won in unpaid wages—a sum significantly less than what other regular employees are owed—he is exhibiting contradictory behavior, such as filing a complaint with the Labor Office himself.”
Furthermore, Attorney Hyun urged, “I earnestly ask all executives and employees not to be misled by the baseless agitation of certain individuals, and to promptly receive your wages in accordance with the lawful procedures established by the company.”
Previously, the “Association of Affected Employees from the Three Companies” related to Cha Gawon—including One Hundred Label, Big Planet Made Entertainment, and I&B 100—issued a statement appealing, “Approximately 100 employees are suffering from issues such as unpaid social insurance premiums, wage arrears, and unsettled severance pay.”