Singer Ock Joo-hyun Under Police Investigation for Alleged Illegal Agency Operations

South Korean singer and musical actress Ock Joo-hyun is reportedly under police investigation for operating her entertainment agency without the proper registration as a popular culture arts planner.

According to a media report on the 12th, the Namyangju Bukbu Police Station in Gyeonggi Province has launched an investigation into allegations that Ock's agencies, Title Role and TOI Entertainment, were not registered as required by law. The complaint filed against her argues that legal compliance is paramount in the entertainment industry and that exceptions should not be made based on social influence or market position.

Ock's side acknowledged the delay in registration, stating, "It is a clear oversight that we did not complete the registration of our popular culture arts planning business in a timely manner." However, they emphasized that they never intentionally evaded legal procedures or operated the company illegally. They explained that a procedural oversight occurred during the initial preparation for registration about three years ago when the company was founded, and they intend to manage administrative procedures more thoroughly moving forward to regain trust.

The law requires entertainers operating as corporations or sole proprietorships with more than one employee to register as popular culture arts planners, with violations punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million KRW. Ock's agency confirmed that the registration application was completed on September 10, 2025, and they are currently awaiting official registration.

This situation comes as Ock Joo-hyun recently appeared on a variety show to discuss the "Okjupan controversy" from three years ago, which involved allegations of nepotism in casting for the musical 'Elizabeth.' The controversy escalated after actor Kim Ho-young made a cryptic post that was interpreted as a jab at Ock, leading to a defamation lawsuit that Ock eventually dropped. On the show, Ock and fellow musical actress Lee Ji-hye shared their distress over the incident, expressing how they believed their integrity would prevail but were overwhelmed by the public backlash.

Ock Joo-hyun debuted as a member of the popular K-pop group Fin.K.L. in 2000, achieving significant success.

She has since established a prominent career as a musical actress, starring in hit productions like 'Elizabeth,' 'Rebecca,' and 'Mata Hari,' earning acclaim for her vocal prowess and acting skills.

The 'Okjupan controversy' in 2022 stemmed from alleged nepotism in casting for the 10th-anniversary production of the musical 'Elizabeth,' which involved a public dispute with actor Kim Ho-young.