South Korean singer and actor Lee Seung Gi signed a management contract with Big Planet Made Entertainment on April 29th. He will join SHINee member Taemin, who recently joined the company in early April.
Big Planet Made Entertainment stated, “Our company has signed a management contract with the versatile actor Lee Seung Gi, who is active in various fields such as music, acting, and variety shows. We will continue to actively support him in various aspects of his activities in Korea and overseas. We hope everyone will show their support and look forward to Lee Seung Gi’s new beginnings.”
In June 2004, while still a high school senior, Lee Seung Gi debuted as a singer and won several newcomer awards for his song “Because You’re My Woman.” He has since released numerous popular songs such as “Difficult Word,” “Will You Marry Me,” “It’s a Friend,” “Era of Love,” and “Return.”
In October of the same year, Lee Seung Gi ventured into acting by joining the sitcom “Non-Stop 5”. He then starred in well-received and high-rating Korean dramas like “My Girlfriend is a Gumiho,” “You’re All Surrounded,” “Hwayugi,” and “Love Law Enforcement,” showcasing his exceptional acting skills. He has received accolades including the TV Drama Grand Prize at the 6th Asia Artist Awards and the Grand Prize at the 2022 KBS Acting Awards.
On the variety show front, Lee Seung Gi has also achieved success. He has hosted and appeared in programs like “2 Days 1 Night,” “Strong Heart,” “New Journey to the West,” “Master in the House,” and “Cohabitation Dairy 072.” His humorous and steady hosting skills have been well-received. He won the KBS Entertainment Awards in 2011 for “2 Days 1 Night” and the SBS Entertainment Awards in 2018 for “Master in the House.”
In November 2022, a scandal involving Lee Seung Gi’s former agency, Hook Entertainment, surfaced when it was revealed that they had embezzled his music revenue and part of his advertising fees. Despite generating around 9.6 billion Korean won in music revenue from 2009 to 2022 with 27 albums and 137 songs, Lee Seung Gi had not received any of the proceeds personally.
After the incident came to light, Hook Entertainment unilaterally compensated Lee Seung Gi with a total of 5.4 billion Korean won (approximately 128 million New Taiwan Dollars / 392.3 thousand US dollars), which included music revenue and interest. Lee Seung Gi chose to resolve the issue through legal means and pledged to donate the entire amount, deducting only lawyer fees, back to society. Following the incident, Lee Seung Gi has donated approximately 2.85 billion Korean won (approximately 67.51 million New Taiwan Dollars / 207 thousand US dollars).
In June 2022, Lee Seung Gi established his own studio, Human Made, and terminated his contract with former agency Hook Entertainment in December of the same year, continuing his activities as a free agent. On April 7, 2023, Lee Seung Gi and his wife Lee Da In held a private wedding in Seoul. Their first daughter was born on February 5 this year.