Korean Stars Sung Si-kyung & Chun Jung-myung Reveal Manager Betrayals, Sparking 'Trust Crisis' Concerns in Entertainment Industry

A growing number of celebrities are coming forward with stories of betrayal and fraud allegedly committed by managers they've worked closely with for years, bringing the issue of 'managerial risk' back into the spotlight.

Singer Sung Si-kyung recently announced an abrupt end to his decade-long professional relationship with his manager. His agency, SK Jae Won, confirmed, "It has been confirmed that the former manager engaged in acts that breached the company's trust during their employment. We are currently assessing the full extent of the damages, and the employee has already resigned."

The manager in question was a key figure, overseeing Sung Si-kyung's career across concerts, broadcasts, advertisements, and events. They were also a familiar face to fans through the YouTube channel 'Meokkeul Tende' (literally 'Will Eat'). This betrayal has caused not only professional disruption but also significant emotional distress for Sung Si-kyung.

Sung Si-kyung himself shared his pain on social media, stating, "The past few months have been a continuous period of intense struggle and hardship. Experiencing a breach of trust from someone you believed in, cherished, and considered family... it's not easy, even at my age."

Amidst this, actor Chun Jung-myung's past struggles also resurfaced. He previously revealed that he was defrauded by his manager of 16 years, even contemplating retirement.

Chun Jung-myung had confessed on a past broadcast that his manager of 16 years committed fraud and embezzlement. "They even defrauded my parents, and I ended up considering retirement," he shared, adding, "The significant financial loss and fraud led to social anxiety."

Chun Jung-myung's experience extended beyond financial loss, causing a long hiatus due to the shattered trust. "How could this happen to me?" he questioned, reflecting on the broken faith.

The common thread in both situations is the collapse of trust, with long-term managers becoming the source of separation or financial damage. Sung Si-kyung vowed, "This too shall pass... I will do my best to get through it well." Chun Jung-myung expressed a desire to trust again, stating, "I've become unable to trust people. But I want to meet them again and regain that trust."

As these incidents highlight the significant risks involved beyond simple professional relationships, the industry is increasingly recognizing the need for systemic changes in managing these partnerships.

Netizens have reacted with sympathy and concern, with comments like, "It must be devastating to be betrayed by someone you trusted so much," "Sung Si-kyung and Chun Jung-myung must have gone through immense emotional pain. I hope they find a resolution," and "It's becoming true that you can't trust anyone these days."