Singer Lee So-ra: “Victim of embezzlement worth several billion won”... Neighboring rights to 45 songs, including “The Wind Blows,” seized in action against former agency

[Financial News] It has emerged that singer Lee So-ra, 56, took legal action against the former head of her agency, with whom she had worked for more than 20 years, to freeze the recording rights to her signature songs. With allegations that the former head embezzled a large sum also coming to light, a dispute between two longtime close associates in the music industry appears to be escalating into a courtroom battle.
According to legal and music industry sources on the 10th, the Incheon District Court on February 13 granted an application filed by Lee So-ra for an order seizing neighboring rights against Mr. Kim, the former head of her former agency Seiren. Lee So-ra’s side began the process in early February and completed all procedures related to registering the rights by March.
The rights subject to seizure covered a total of 45 songs, including those on her sixth studio album, “Eyebrow Moon” (2004), which features Lee So-ra’s signature hit “The Wind Blows,” as well as her seventh and eighth studio albums and a remake album. Neighboring rights are legal rights recognized for a singer’s performance or a record producer, separate from the copyright granted to lyricists and composers. Under this decision, former CEO Kim can no longer sell or otherwise dispose of the rights at will. However, the seizure order is a restriction on the disposition of rights intended to preserve them; it does not determine who ultimately owns them.
The close relationship between the two helps explain why the conflict has come as such a shock. Kim first worked with Lee So-ra as the manager overseeing her fifth studio album, “Sora’s Diary,” in 2002, and has since been a close aide overseeing all aspects of her career for more than 20 years, including album production and concerts.
Financial issues appear to lie behind the breakdown of trust between the two sides. According to industry sources, former CEO Kim is reportedly suspected of siphoning off several billion won in advances received from Lee So-ra’s music distributor, concert promoter and others.
In response, Lee So-ra’s current agency, Marehim Entertainment, issued an official statement that day, saying, “Although we worked with the former agency for a long time, after taking various circumstances into consideration, we concluded that it would be difficult to maintain a relationship of trust any longer.” It added, “We are ending the relationship and taking the necessary legal steps to protect the artist’s legitimate rights and musical assets.” The agency also asked the public to “refrain from speculating about or drawing sweeping conclusions from unverified information, as legal proceedings concerning the matter are currently underway.”
Lee So-ra, who debuted in 1993 as a member of the group “Strange People” and has left a significant mark on the history of Korean popular music with songs such as “I’m Happy” and “Please,” released her first new song in seven years, “I’ll Forget Your Face Completely,” last July and continues her career under a new agency.
[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter