The former head of Stardom Entertainment, the agency manages Block B, has committed suicide according to reports.

The deceased reportedly was found dead in his home on May 20 after taking his own life.

Lee Seung Young, the former agency head, was discovered in the basement of his home by a friend after allegedly committing suicide. He was taken to a nearby hospital where his death was confirmed and a wake is currently underway.

The suicide comes in the wake of a lawsuit from Block B, a seven-member hip-hop group managed by Stardom Entertainment, calling for the nullification of their contract. The group claimed the company failed the members their earnings for a year and named Lee as a central figure in the controversy.

The suit, which was filed on January 3, includes not only reports of unpaid earnings, but also alleges fraud. Block B claimed that the former CEO had taken approximately 70,000,000 won (or around $65,000) from the members' parents and had disappeared.

Stardom Entertainment, however, refuted the accusations and said they never failed to pay the members' salaries. The agency further insinuated that there was a mastermind behind the the claims instructing the members to file suit.

There were many conflicting reports at the time the news broke. Some sources have been reporting that Lee had suffered greatly as a result of the ongoing lawsuit. According to MBN TV, however, a source close to the deceased said, "It is true that it was a suicide. I know there are rumors that his death has something to do with Block B's lawsuit, but there is no relationship between those two." The source further explained, "It was because of a personal reason. I think he felt there was no other solution."

In a statement to TV Daily, Stardom Entertainment said that Lee left the company more than two years ago and they have no information about the current reports.