On December 24, Lee Ha-nui’s agency, Team Hope, announced to Newsen, “Hope Project has completed registration as a popular culture and arts planning business in accordance with Article 26, Paragraph 1 of the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act, and officially received the registration certificate on October 28.”
He added, “We plan to faithfully participate in related procedures in the future.”
Previously, on the 23rd, Gangnam Police Station sent Lee Ha-nui and her husband to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office without detention on charges of violating the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act.
Honey Lee served as CEO and executive director at Hope Project, which was established as Hanui Co., Ltd. in 2015, until January 2023. It is known that husband A currently serves as the CEO of Hope Project, and Lee Ha-nui serves as an internal director.
On September 22, it was belatedly reported that Hope Project had been conducting a management business for about 10 years without legal registration. In response, Lee Ha-nui’s side told Newsen, “Hope Project was unable to proceed with the registration process because it was not fully aware of the obligation to register as a popular culture and arts planning business. “After recently confirming this fact, we have received advice from experts and are proceeding with the procedure in accordance with relevant regulations, and we plan to complete registration as soon as possible within the guidance period.”
If an entertainment agency operates without complying with the obligation to register as a popular culture and arts agency, it is subject to imprisonment for up to 2 years or a fine of up to 20 million won.
https://m.entertain.naver.com/home/article/609/0001073393