Actress Han Ye-seul has scored a second legal victory in her lawsuit over unpaid modeling fees, with a Korean appeals court ruling once again in her favor.
⚖️ Court Upholds Ruling: ₩660 Million Must Be Paid
On May 21, the Seoul High Court upheld the initial decision in the lawsuit filed by Han Ye-seul's agency, High Entertainment, against NextPlayer, the operator of a health supplement brand.
The court ordered NextPlayer to pay ₩660 million (approx. $480,000), affirming the first trial's ruling that partially sided with Han.
📸 The Contract: 22 Appearances, ₩1.43 Billion Total Fee
Han signed an endorsement deal with NextPlayer in April 2022 to model for health brand "S." The contract covered:
- 4 video shoots
- 4 print ads
- Total: 22 promotional appearances
The fee: ₩1.43 billion, to be paid in two installments of ₩715 million. A key clause stated that if even one ad was used, the full modeling fee would be owed.
NextPlayer paid the first installment in mid-2022 and only ₩55 million of the second installment in March 2023—leaving ₩660 million unpaid.
🧾 Counterclaim Denied
NextPlayer countered with a ₩500 million lawsuit, arguing that Han's team delayed shoots and failed to fulfill social media obligations. However, the court rejected these claims, stating:
"There isn't sufficient evidence to conclude the plaintiff failed to cooperate."
The court added that the use of Han's ad materials—even once—obligated the full fee. Delays due to COVID-19 and creative requests were not considered breaches of contract.
🔚 Appeal Dismissed, Original Ruling Stands
NextPlayer appealed the first ruling, but the appeals court dismissed the challenge, concluding the original decision was valid.
"The defendant must pay the plaintiff ₩660 million," the court reiterated in its final decision.
[Photo Credit: Dispatch DB]
