The Seoul Yongsan Police Station forwarded 2NE1 member CL to prosecutors on January 23, 2026, for operating her entertainment agency Very Cherry without proper registration for approximately five years.
CL, whose real name is Lee Chae-rin, established the one-person agency Very Cherry in 2020 after her contract with YG Entertainment expired. The agency operated without registering as a popular culture and arts planning business, which is required under South Korea's Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act.
According to police, CL and the corporation she operates were referred to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office without detention on charges of violating the act.
The investigation began in September 2025 when a complaint was filed against unregistered entertainment agencies operating in South Korea, according to allkpop.
Very Cherry acknowledged the oversight at that time, stating that they had recently confirmed the unregistered status and were taking the matter seriously while expediting the registration process.
However, authorities proceeded with legal action after determining that the agency had conducted business illegally for five years and seven months.
Under the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act, entertainment agencies in South Korea must register with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism through local administrative authorities.
The registration requirement was fully implemented in July 2014 to protect entertainers' rights, ensure industry transparency, and prevent the proliferation of unregistered agencies. Operating an entertainment agency without registration can result in up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won, approximately $14,000, chosun reported.
CL is not alone in facing legal consequences for operating an unregistered agency. The CEO of AA Group, the agency representing actor Kang Dong-won, was also forwarded to prosecutors on the same day for operating without registration for two years and nine months.
However, Kang Dong-won himself was cleared of charges after police determined he was not directly involved in the agency's operations or management decisions.
The controversy over unregistered entertainment agencies gained widespread attention in September 2025 when multiple celebrities, including singers Sung Si-kyung, Ok Joo-hyun, and Song Ga-in, were found to have operated agencies without proper registration, in some cases for over a decade.
In response, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced a mass registration guidance period lasting until December 31, 2025, to encourage voluntary compliance.
The Korea Entertainment Management Association has called for strict punishment for celebrities who violate the law, stating that such behavior disrupts industry order regardless of whether they later complete registration.
The prosecution will now determine whether to formally charge CL and what penalties may be imposed for the violation, as per mk.
