K-pop mogul behind Taemin, EXO-CBX’s former agencies denies all allegations in $22M fraud trial
One Hundred Label CEO Cha Ga-won denied allegations that she defrauded two parties of 29.6 billion won ($22 million) in a Seoul trial involving Taemin, EXO-CBX and fromis_9 projects.
SHIN HA-NEESHINHA-NEELIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER
One Hundred Label CEO Cha Ga-won arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on Aug. 3.JOINT PRESS CORPS
[K-pop Courtroom]
Cha Ga-won, a real estate mogul who swiftly became a major player in K-pop, denied all charges of defrauding two parties of a combined 29.6 billion won ($22.2 million), during a trial on Tuesday.
The CEO and co-founder of One Hundred Label, whose subsidiaries previously managed SHINee’s Taemin and EXO-CBX, appeared wearing a mask in a courtroom at the Seoul Central District Court escorted by two officers.
Cha has been held at Seoul Detention Center since August.
Case at a Glance
Cha Ga-won, co-founder of One Hundred Label and a real estate entrepreneur, stood trial on Tuesday on charges of defrauding entertainment technology company Knowmerce and an unnamed individual of a combined 29.6 billion won ($22.2 million). She denied all allegations.
Cha, currently held in custody, appeared in courtwearing a mask. Her lawyers said she had been experiencing health problems in detention.
Cha also faces several legal battles, including the ongoing ones with The Boyz, Viviz, EXO-CBX and Lee Seung-gi over unpaid earnings, alleged embezzlement and an unreturned housing deposit.
The next court hearing is set to take place on Nov. 3.
During the first hearing of the criminal court case, Cha removed her mask once the trial began, and answered the judge’s questions to confirm her identity, giving her occupation as “CEO of One Hundred Label.”
Cha is accused of obtaining 24.2 billion won in advance payments from Knowmerce, an entertainment technology company that operates fan communication platform Fromm, by promising projects involving K-pop artists’ intellectual property that she allegedly had no intention or ability to carry out.
According to the prosecutor, Cha obtained 5.5 billion won from Knowmerce by falsely promising an executive a contract for Taemin’s concert. She allegedly received another 5.5 billion won for Taemin’s merchandise production and distribution and 12.1 billion won for EXO-CBX’s merchandise project. She allegedly obtained another 1.1 billion won for a deal to bring girl group fromis_9 to Fromm, claiming that the group had signed provisional management agreements and would join One Hundred Label, which never materialized as fromis_9 joined ASND Entertainment last year.
From left, Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin pose for a photo after its "2025 CBX Japan Fanmeeting Get, Set, Go!" fan meet and greet event held on Feb. 9, 2025.INB100
Singer Taemin of SHINeeBIG PLANET MADE
She is also accused of fraudulently obtaining a 5.4 billion won housing deposit from an acquaintance surnamed Jang. Cha allegedly told Jang that she would arrange for an artist she managed to rent the home Jang was living in under a jeonse (lump-sum deposit) lease, while Jang would move into a property owned by Cha and her husband.
“The defendant denies all of the allegations,” Cha’s lawyer said.
But further details of the denial of the charges were not elaborated, as Cha’s legal representative said the team needed more time to review the case records and the prosecution’s evidence, but added, “We expect to withhold consent to the admission of many items of evidence.”
The defense will discuss the admission of the evidence at the next hearing, which is set for 10 a.m., Nov. 3.
One Hundred Label Co-CEO Cha Ga-won speaks at a press conference held in central Seoul on June 10, 2024.NEWS1
Cha’s representative said that the team would work diligently to finish the review swiftly in two weeks when setting the date for the next hearing, adding that Cha has been experiencing health problems, which predated the detention.
Cha, chair of real estate firm p_Arc Group, co-founded One Hundred Label with rapper MC Mong in December 2023. The company became the parent of Big Planet Made and later EXO Baekhyun’s INB100, which joined in May 2024.
One Hundred Label and its subsidiaries quickly built a prominent presence in the industry, signing with artists including Taemin, EXO-CBX, Viviz and The Boyz. Big Planet Made also launched girl group Badvillain in 2024.
Boy band The BoyzONE HUNDRED LABEL
Cracks began to emerge in 2025, as MC Mong was excluded from company duties in June. That December, an alleged affair between MC Mong and Cha was reported, which both parties denied. Reports of financial difficulties and unpaid artist payments followed, leading to artists leaving the labels or pursuing legal action over their contracts and payments. In April, nine members of The Boyz filed a criminal complaint against Cha, alleging embezzlement.
Following Knowmerce’s police complaint filed in November last year, police searched Big Planet Made in April, and requested detention warrants twice in June, which had been returned. The third request was accepted by the prosecutors, leading to Cha’s detention in August, as the court issued the warrant citing concerns that Cha could destroy evidence. Prosecutors indicted Cha that month over fraud charges under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.
Timeline: Cha Ga-won's legal disputes
Cha establish One Hundred Label with MC Mong
The real estate mogul's new agency became the parent company of Big Planet Made Entertainment, which signed with various artists including Viviz, Lee Mu-jin and Lee Seung-gi
SHINee's Taemin joins One Hundred Label
The SHINee member signed with Big Planet Made.
Baekhyun's INB100 joins One Hundred Label
Following an acquisition, EXO-CBX joined the broader One Hundred Label lineup.
Knowmerce pays Cha 24.2 billion won in advance
The entertainment technology company paid defendant 1.1 billion won for a fromis_9 fan platform agreement; 12.1 billion won for EXO-CBX project; 11 billion won for Taemin merchandise and concerts, according to later complaint.
The Boyz joins One Hundred Label
After the expiration of the contracts with IST Entertainment, the boy band signed with One Hundred Label after a public dispute with its former agency over use of the group's name, which was resolved in December.
MC Mong steps away
The co-founder announced his resignation from executive duties citing health issues, including depression.
Knowmerce files fraud complaint against Cha
The company filed a police complaint against Cha, alleging that she received 24.2 billion won in advance payments without the intention or ability to carry out the promised projects.
MC Mong ordered to repay Cha
A court ordered MC Mong to repay approximately 12 billion won to Cha. The payment order became final after he did not file an objection within the required period.
Alleged affair between Cha and MC Mong denied
A media report alleged that Cha and MC Mong had been in an extramarital relationship, which One Hundred Label and MC Mong adamantly denied.
Artists under One Hundred Label and its subsidiaries, including Taemin, The Boyz, EXO-CBX, Lee Seung-gi and Viviz, left or sought to terminate their contracts, with many alleging that the label failed to make payments. Nine members of The Boyz, except for New, filed a criminal complaint accusing Cha of embezzlement.
Police raid Big Planet Made over alleged 30-billion-won losses
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency searched the One Hundred Label subsidiary's office to seize materials related to the investigation. The police said that it had consolidated three complaints against Cha into a single investigation, involving alleged losses of approximately 30 billion won.
Cha denies fraud allegations; Police question Cha
Cha argued that knowmerce understood the projects’ risks and that she offered to return the advances. Police questioned her on May 6 and 7.
Police seek Cha's detention for the first time, returned
Police submitted their first request for a detention warrant against Cha. Prosecutors returned it, demanding additional investigation.
Police's second arrest request, returned
Police submitted a second detention-warrant request on June 15. Prosecutors return it on June 18, saying further investigation is needed.
Police's third attempt at Cha's arrest accepted by prosecutors
Following additional investigations, police submitted a third detention-warrant request on July 22. Prosecutors apply to the court for the warrant on July 28.
Cha is arrested; Prosecutors indict Cha on fraud charges
The Seoul Central District Court issued a detention warrant for Cha, citing concerns that she could destroy evidence. Cha denies the allegations.
Cha's trial begins
Cha’s first hearing took place at 10:30 a.m. at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul. She faces fraud charges involving 24.2 billion won in advance payments from knowmerce and a separate 5.4 billion won lump-sum housing deposit from an acquaintance, totaling 29.6 billion won.
