Money Taken for “Lessons” and Other Fees
Several Korean Americans Report Recent Losses
Korean Americans hoping to enter the entertainment industry in Korea are being warned about people who claim to have agency connections and take money from aspiring performers. Reports of losses are increasing as those involved present documents that look like genuine contracts or pretend to work with agency representatives.
Han (20), a UCLA student, says she was deceived by a Korean American man surnamed Lee (28), who approached her claiming to have special connections with well-known entertainment agencies in Korea.
“Lee said he had seen my profile through an agency and could help me debut in Korea,” said Han, who studies ballet. “He introduced me to people he said worked for an agency and even brought a contract to our home to persuade my parents, so I believed him.”
Han says Lee then told her she needed various lessons to catch an agency head’s attention. He had her pay $100 to $300 an hour for lessons and continued asking for money before disappearing several months later. “I later found out he had referred other people for lessons in the same way and taken payments behind the scenes,” she said.
Kim (18), another Korean American aspiring performer, says she lost at least $100,000 over the past year to a man surnamed Choi who claimed to be an agency director.
Kim says she met Choi by chance last year while preparing to enter the Korean entertainment industry. “At first, he seemed helpful and gave me free singing lessons at his office. Then he started asking for money, saying he needed to lobby agencies in Korea. He also demanded separate fees to arrange a debut in Japan,” she said. “After I had given him more than $100,000, I said I couldn’t pay any more. He disappeared.”
“Established agencies do not ask trainees to pay lesson fees or separate processing fees, so requests like these should raise suspicion,” an agency representative advised. “When signing a contract, review the details carefully with a lawyer.”
