2NE1’s leader and South Korean rapper CL, whose real name is Lee Chae-rin, has been referred to prosecutors in South Korea after authorities found that she allegedly ran a one-person agency without proper registration.
The Yongsan Police Station in Seoul announced on January 22 that CL was referred without detention for allegedly violating the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act. Under this, the law requires entertainment agencies to register with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism so the government can oversee contracts and safeguard artists’ rights.
Without proper registration, violations may carry penalties of up to two years in prison or fines of up to 20 million won (around ₱804,000).
CL rose to fame in 2009 under YG Entertainment as the leader and main rapper of K-pop girl group 2NE1. After departing from the agency in December 2019, the rapper established her own one-person agency, Very Cherry, in 2020 to manage her solo career.
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In September 2025, South Korean media outlet TenAsia reported that Very Cherry had allegedly been operating for more than five years without being registered as a “pop culture and arts planning business,” as required by law. At the time, the agency acknowledged administrative oversights and said it had already begun completing the required registration procedures.
Apart from CL, the police announcement also noted that the chief executive of AA Group, the agency of South Korean actor Gang Dong-won, was similarly referred to prosecutors on January 22 for running an unregistered agency since its establishment in 2023. Dong-won, however, was cleared of charges after authorities determined that he focused solely on acting and was not involved in the management of the company.
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More other celebrities were also named in September 2025 for operating agencies without proper registration, including singer Sung Si-kyung and musical actress Ock Joo-hyun. Following those reports, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it would grant a grace period until December 31, 2025, for celebrities and agencies to comply with registration requirements.
As of this writing, no further details have been released regarding the next steps in CL’s case.