Lee Hi's Private Company Allegedly Operated Illegally for More Than 5 Years

Kapanlagi.com - Shocking facts have emerged regarding singer Lee Hi. The private agency she founded in 2020 was only officially registered as a popular culture and arts planning company in early 2026, despite having been in operation for more than five years.

Here’s the complete news about Lee Hi's company case, and don’t forget to check other news at Liputan6.com!

1. About 808Hi Recordings

Lee Hi (credit: Spotify)

According to a Field News report on January 27, 2026, a company named 808Hi Recordings has just completed the registration process at the Mapo District Office on January 21, 2026. This means that the company operated for five years and nine months without the proper legal status.

This company was first established in April 2020 under the name Lee Hi Co., Ltd. However, for years its existence and operational activities were hardly exposed to the public. According to legal records, Lee Hi is listed as the CEO, while her sister serves as the internal director, indicating that the company is run privately within the family.

2. Company Name Changes and Suspicion

Lee Hi (credit: 88Hi Recordings)

What raises more questions is the series of company name changes that occurred in a relatively short period. In June 2025, the company name was changed to 808Hi Recordings, then reverted back to Lee Hi Co., Ltd. in November 2025. Not stopping there, the company changed its name again to 808Hi Recordings on January 5, 2026, just two weeks before it finally submitted an official registration as an entertainment agency.

The repeated name changes leading up to this registration process have sparked speculation within the industry regarding the reasons behind this move, especially since it occurred close to the end of a mass training period set by the government.

3. Company Issues

Lee Hi (credit: Mydramalist)

For your information, the Law on the Development of Popular Cultural Industries and Arts explicitly requires companies or individuals (with more than one person) who manage artists and engage in entertainment planning activities to be registered with the local government. Violations of this provision may be subject to criminal penalties of up to two years in prison or a maximum fine of 20 million won.

The problem is that the registration of 808Hi Recordings was done after the end of the training period set by the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism until the end of 2025. This period is intended to give agencies that have been operating without permission the opportunity to register voluntarily and avoid severe sanctions.

4. Lee Hi's Company Registered Late

Lee Hi (credit: AOMG)

However, Lee Hi's company is known to have only started the registration process about three weeks after the deadline had passed. In fact, the ministry had previously warned that those who remained non-compliant after the grace period would face strict administrative measures, including the possibility of criminal reporting.

Against this backdrop, public attention is now focused on the stance of the relevant authorities: will 808Hi Recordings face only administrative sanctions, or will it be processed further according to applicable legal provisions.

5. Response from Lee Hi's Agency

Lee Hi (credit: YG Ent)

In response to this spotlight, Duuover, the agency representing Lee Hi, issued a clarification. They stated that Lee Hi has been working under an exclusive contract with Duuover, so the management was unaware that the artist's private company was also required to be registered as a cultural planning and arts agency.

"This incident occurred due to ignorance and negligence on both the company and the artist's part," said a representative from Duuover. They expressed their apologies and promised to be more careful in checking legal compliance in the future.

6. The Statement Still Raises Curiosity

Lee Hi (credit: Spotify)

Nevertheless, the explanation has not fully alleviated public questions, given that the registration obligation has been clearly regulated in the law and widely socialized through government mass coaching policies.

7. What Do KLovers Think?

Lee Hi (credit: Soompi)

Now, this case serves as a real example of how the practice of unregistered agencies still occurs in the South Korean entertainment industry, even involving big names, and how law enforcement will be tested after the official grace period ends.

(kpl/pit)