Youngtak's Side Refutes "Yecheon Brewery Threatened Mother That Son's Life Would Be Ruined"... Conflict Escalates

Youngtak's Side: "Yecheon Yangjo Threatened and Blackmailed, Saying They Will Be Socially Ruined"
Yecheon Yangjo: "We Have Evidence of 15 Billion Won Demand"
Both Sides Announce Lawsuits... Legal Conflict Inevitable

[Asia Economy Reporter Sumi Hwang] The trademark dispute between trot singer Yeongtak and Yecheon Brewery, the manufacturer of 'Yeongtak Makgeolli,' is escalating.

On the 21st, New Era Project (hereinafter New Era), which manages Yeongtak, announced through an official statement that it plans to file a lawsuit against Yecheon Brewery next week. They also reiterated that there had been extortion and threats from Yecheon Brewery during this process.

This is a response to Yecheon Brewery's announcement on the 19th that they have evidence that "Yeongtak's side demanded 15 billion KRW" and their intention to take legal action.

New Era stated, "We are preparing legal action against Yecheon Brewery's extortion and threats and plan to submit a complaint next week."

They also provided specific details regarding the circumstances of Yecheon Brewery's extortion and threats aimed at forcing trademark negotiations.

New Era claimed, "Yecheon Brewery threatened that if trademark negotiations were not conducted according to their demands, singer Yeongtak's image would be severely damaged, leading to his social ruin." They further pointed out, "More seriously, Yecheon Brewery directly called Yeongtak's mother, who is in her late 60s, threatening that her son's life could be ruined unless she complies with the conditions Yecheon Brewery demands for trademark negotiations."

They added, "Yecheon Brewery also repeatedly threatened the management company, saying that if negotiations were not conducted according to their demands, Yeongtak's image would be severely damaged and bad things would happen to the management company, urging them to negotiate in the direction Yecheon Brewery demands." They emphasized that they have secured objective evidence such as recordings and text messages related to this.

New Era lamented, "Currently, Yecheon Brewery is executing the extortion and threats by insulting, defaming, and spreading false information about Yeongtak, causing serious damage to his image, and also insulting and defaming his family, causing them distress." They appealed, "We ask everyone to understand that Yecheon Brewery's unjust actions are solely aimed at forcibly seizing the trademark rights."

Earlier, on the 19th, Yecheon Brewery refuted New Era's claim that "Yeongtak's side's demand for 15 billion KRW is groundless" through an official statement and hinted at legal action.

Yecheon Brewery stated, "We clearly have evidence presented by Yeongtak's side, and once the complaint is filed, we will submit it to investigative authorities to reveal who is lying."

They also added, "We have never committed extortion or threats, nor have we published false information. If we receive a complaint, we will respond appropriately with just and factual evidence, including additional information that has not been disclosed so far, and explain it in detail to investigative authorities or the court."

The conflict between the two parties surfaced when Yecheon Brewery revealed in July that the contract for Yeongtak's activities as the model for 'Yeongtak Makgeolli' had ended and that there was a dispute during the failed renewal process.

At that time, Yecheon Brewery claimed, "Yeongtak's side demanded separate model fees, cash related to the trademark, and company shares amounting to 5 billion KRW for one year and 15 billion KRW for three years, and refused to negotiate the amount by the final deadline."

This revelation rapidly sparked controversy over 'model power abuse.'

In response, New Era immediately denied Yecheon Brewery's claim that negotiations broke down due to Yeongtak's side making unreasonable demands such as 15 billion KRW, stating, "It is not true at all that Yeongtak's side demanded 15 billion KRW." They also pointed out that Yecheon Brewery's claim to the right to use Yeongtak's trademark is legally unfounded.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.