Singer and actor Lee Seung Gi has publicly addressed allegations surrounding a luxury villa developed by Cha Ga Won, chairman of PIARC Group and head of ONE HUNDRED LABEL.
The issue was discussed during a recent episode of PD’s Notebook, which examined the circumstances surrounding the high-value lease agreements signed by several celebrities living in the building. According to the program, all four units in the luxury villa remained unsold. Two of the units were reportedly occupied by artists under Cha Ga Won’s influence, including Lee Seung Gi and EXO‘s Baekhyun.
The report claimed that Lee Seung Gi’s unit carried a lease deposit of approximately ₩10.5 billion KRW (about $6.93 million USD), while Baekhyun’s reportedly amounted to ₩16.0 billion KRW (about $10.6 million USD). The properties were also associated with substantial loans, with debt levels reportedly increasing significantly after the celebrity lease agreements were signed.
Addressing the situation, Lee Seung Gi claimed that Cha Ga Won had repeatedly encouraged him and his wife to move into the building.
“She told us the unit above his was empty and said he wanted to live close to us and rely on us. We turned him down several times, but he kept insisting.”
Lee Seung Gi further alleged that the lease process became problematic after moving in.
“We were told the appraisal was delayed and the exact lease amount couldn’t be finalized. Then after we moved in, the amount they requested was more than three times higher than what had originally been discussed.”
Cha Ga Won disputed the criticism, claiming she had personally covered billions of won in loan interest payments related to artists living in the building over the past three years. However, Lee Seung Gi pushed back against that narrative.
“She promised she would continue covering the loan interest herself.”
The actor further alleged that those promised payments were ultimately not being made as agreed. The controversy has drawn significant attention because it involves both high-profile celebrities and substantial real estate transactions. Following the broadcast, multiple media outlets reportedly attempted to contact Cha Ga Won’s side for further comment. However, reports claimed that ONE HUNDRED LABEL’s public relations team had recently resigned, while legal representatives did not respond to inquiries.
The allegations and counterclaims remain ongoing, with both sides presenting differing accounts of what occurred during the lease negotiations. More on his lease and house can be read about below.
Lee Da In And Lee Seung Gi Sign Lease For Luxury UN Village Villa