First Detection of Rumored 'Eumwon Sajagi'... Singer Youngtak's Agency CEO Sent to Prosecution

"Yeongtak Didn't Know... Sorry for Causing Trouble to the Artist"

Singer Yeongtak.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The CEO of singer Youngtak's agency has been referred to the prosecution on charges of requesting so-called 'music chart manipulation' to boost music chart rankings.

According to the police on the 4th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency sent Lee Jae-gyu, CEO of Youngtak's agency Milagro, to the prosecution on the 1st of this month on charges of violating the Act on the Promotion of Music Industry.

Lee is suspected of requesting a marketing agent to manipulate the music chart rankings of Youngtak's song "Niga Wae Geogiseo Nawa" in 2019, when Youngtak was an unknown singer. Youngtak gained public popularity by participating in a TV audition program the following year, and the song began to be recognized as well.

In a press release on the day, Lee stated, "I lost my reason for a moment due to personal greed and did something I should not have done," adding, "I admit all the charges in this case and deeply reflect and regret it."

However, Youngtak explained that he could not be involved in the company's business methods and was not informed. Lee apologized, saying, "I am sorry for causing trouble to the artist who gained attention solely through his abilities on the audition program after a long period of obscurity."

Although suspicions of covert music chart manipulation have been raised several times in the music industry, this is the first case to be officially booked through an investigation by law enforcement agencies.

The current Music Industry Act stipulates that anyone who unfairly purchases albums or related items, or causes others to unfairly purchase them to increase sales, shall be punished by imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to 20 million won.

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