In the entertainment industry, getting paid for your work should be the most straightforward part of the job. However, for GOT7’s Youngjae, what should have been a simple transaction turned into a year-long dispute that spilled onto social media, triggered legal action, and exposed a production company’s contradictory public statements. Here is everything that happened and where things stand right now.
The Situation at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
| Artist Involved | Youngjae (GOT7) |
| Production | Dream High Season 2 (musical) |
| Production Company | Art One Company |
| CEO | Kim Eun Ha |
| Main Run | April 5 to June 1, 2025, Olympic Park Woori Financial Art Hall, Seoul |
| Encore Run | June 17 to July 20, 2025, D-Cube Link Art Center |
| Youngjae’s Role | Song Sam-dong (lead role) |
| Co-Stars | ASTRO’s JinJin, INFINITE’s Jang Dongwoo, Se7en (various runs) |
| Issue | Unpaid appearance fees for nearly a year |
| Initial Lawsuit Filed | January 2026 |
| Reported Lawsuit Amount | Approximately 120 million KRW |
| Current Status | Dispute ongoing, legal procedures continuing |
How the Dispute Started
Youngjae performed the lead role of Song Sam-dong in the stage musical Dream High Season 2, a role originally made famous by Kim Soo-hyun in the television drama. The production ran its main dates from April 5 to June 1, 2025, at the Olympic Park Woori Financial Art Hall in Seoul, followed by encore performances from June 17 to July 20, 2025, at the D-Cube Link Art Center. He shared the stage with performers including ASTRO’s JinJin, INFINITE’s Jang Dongwoo, and Se7en across various runs.
Despite completing his full performance run including the encore stages, Youngjae did not receive his full appearance fees after the production ended. The issue dragged on through the second half of 2025, with Art One Company repeatedly promising resolution but failing to follow through on the schedules it submitted.
By January 2026, Youngjae filed a lawsuit against Art One Company over the unpaid fees, with reports indicating the initial claim was for approximately 120 million KRW. According to available reporting, promises made by the production company during the dispute led to temporary adjustments in the legal proceedings, however the core issue of full payment remained unresolved and legal action ultimately continued. Partial payments had been made throughout the dispute period, but the outstanding amount remained significant.
It is also worth noting that Art One Company had previously produced earlier Dream High musical runs successfully, which made the payment failures surrounding this production more unexpected to many in the industry.
Youngjae enlisted for alternative military service on November 27, 2025, and is currently serving as a social service worker, meaning he has been managing this ongoing dispute while simultaneously fulfilling his mandatory service obligations.
Youngjae Goes Public on June 9
After months of failed promises, Youngjae took the dispute directly to social media on June 9, 2026. His post was detailed and direct, tagging both the Dream High 2 production company’s social media account and CEO Kim Eun Ha by name.
Key points from Youngjae’s public statement:
- The production company had promised to settle the fees by June 9, but the deadline passed without resolution
- Partial payments had been made, but the remaining outstanding amount was still substantial
- He criticized the framing of partial payments as meaningful progress, stating that receiving some money should not be presented as the issue moving forward
- He noted the dispute had been ongoing for nearly a year, with the full year mark approaching in August 2026
- He emphasized that he had not made unreasonable demands and had genuinely wanted to resolve the matter amicably
- He expressed frustration at repeatedly hearing the phrase “we will settle it within this month” with no follow-through across multiple months
His post also drew wider public attention to a separate concern that had already been circulating in industry circles. Reports confirmed that Art One Company was actively preparing Dream High Season 3: Reboot, planned for approximately July to September 2026, despite not having completed payments owed from the Dream High Season 2 production. This detail fueled significant public criticism and raised direct questions about the company’s financial management and commitment to its obligations.
Fan communities rallied strongly behind Youngjae following his post, with widespread support for his decision to make the situation publicly visible rather than allowing it to continue quietly.
The Production Company’s Response
Following Youngjae’s public post, Art One Company CEO Kim Eun Ha issued a formal apology on June 10, 2026.
In her statement, she said: “I sincerely apologize for causing concern to many people over the recently raised issue of unpaid appearance fees. I have especially disappointed the actors and staff members who worked together to create the production.”
The company attributed the payment delays to unexpected financial management difficulties during production and claimed it had been making efforts to resolve the situation from multiple angles. The statement also specifically claimed that Art One Company had reached an amicable agreement with Youngjae’s side to complete the remaining payment by the end of June 2026, promising to prioritize the commitment to the actor above all else.
However, that specific claim immediately created a new and more serious problem.
Youngjae’s Agency Directly Contradicts the Statement
Andbut Company, Youngjae’s agency, released an official response shortly after Art One Company’s statement, and it contradicted the production company’s version of events on every key point.
The agency’s position, clearly stated:
- No agreement on the June timeline existed. Andbut Company confirmed that Youngjae’s side had never agreed to or confirmed a repayment deadline of the end of June 2026
- The repayment plan had already failed once. The production company submitted a repayment schedule at the end of 2025, and that schedule was not honored
- Verbal promises are not sufficient evidence. The agency stated that another verbal mention of preparing a repayment plan does not confirm genuine intent or ability to pay, given the established pattern of missed commitments
- Legal action continues. Andbut Company confirmed it is pressing forward with all necessary legal procedures and closely monitoring whether any actual payments are being made
- The company’s public claim was directly disputed. The agency called out Art One Company for publicly announcing an “amicable agreement” that Youngjae’s side had never confirmed or discussed in those terms
The Broader Impact: More Than Just Youngjae
This dispute extends well beyond one artist. Youngjae is not the only affected party. Multiple reports confirm that several other cast members and staff involved in Dream High Season 2 have also not received full payment, with total outstanding fees across all affected parties reportedly amounting to hundreds of millions of KRW.
The public backlash intensified further upon confirmation that Art One Company intends to proceed with Dream High Season 3: Reboot while obligations from Season 2 remain unresolved. For many fans and industry observers, the decision to plan and develop a new production before settling debts from the previous one raises serious questions about the company’s accountability and financial priorities.
Where Things Stand as of June 13, 2026
| Party | Position |
| Art One Company | Claims amicable agreement reached; full payment promised by end of June 2026 |
| Andbut Company | Denies any agreement on timeline; legal procedures ongoing |
| Youngjae | Fees unpaid for nearly a year; partial payments do not represent resolution |
| Other cast and staff | Multiple parties affected; total outstanding in hundreds of millions of KRW |
| Dream High Season 3: Reboot | Company proceeding with new production planned for July to September 2026 |
No confirmed full payment has been made as of June 13, 2026. The contradiction between the two parties’ public statements leaves the dispute clearly unresolved, and further court updates or official statements are expected in the days ahead. Andbut Company has confirmed it will not stand down until Youngjae’s rights are fully protected, and the legal case remains active.
Source: The Chosun Daily
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