Singer Younha terminates contract with C9 Entertainment over unpaid earnings

Singer-songwriter Younha has terminated her exclusive contract with C9 Entertainment after the agency repeatedly failed to pay her.

“Younha has demanded that the agency rectify its prolonged failure to pay her earnings several times, but it took no corrective action,” law firm Illo, which represents the singer, said in a statement on Monday. “This has led Younha to notify the agency of her exclusive contract’s termination in September.”

C9 Entertainment acknowledged in an official written notice to Younha that the contract termination took effect on Sept. 14, according to the statement.

The singer has also filed a lawsuit to recover her unpaid earnings and intends to resolve the remaining issues through legal proceedings.

She was with C9 Entertainment for 14 years after signing an exclusive contract with the agency in 2012.

Her representatives also urged the media to refrain from speculation.

“Younha will continue her music career,” the statement said. “Other artists and employees at C9 Entertainment are not involved in this matter, and we ask that the media refrain from any speculation."

Younha debuted in Japan in 2004 with the single “Yubikiri” before making her Korean debut in 2006 with the single album “Audition.” She is best known for songs such as “Waiting” (2006), “Password 486" (2007), “Oort Cloud” (2021) and “Event Horizon” (2022).

She married science YouTuber Lee Hyo-jong, who runs the channel “Science Cookie,” in March 2025.

BY KIM JI-YE [[email protected]]