On March 13, Duover Entertainment announced via its official account that Lee Hi’s exclusive contract had expired on March 6. “We inform you that our exclusive contract with artist Lee Hi ended on March 6,” the agency specified. “Although our journey together has come to an end, we sincerely support and look forward to Lee Hi’s future endeavors.”
Duover Entertainment was founded in 2024 by well-known producers and artists GRAY, Code Kunst and Woo Won Jae. Lee Hi had joined the agency to continue exploring new musical directions during her time there.
The end of the contract attracts attention after recent controversy
The announcement has attracted attention as it comes about two months after Lee Hi was involved in a controversy regarding an unregistered entertainment business. In January, reports revealed that Lee Hi was running his own agency, 808 HI RECORDINGS, where he served as CEO. The company had reportedly been active for about five years and nine months without registering with the local government, as required by Korean law for companies operating popular culture and entertainment businesses.
Under the Popular Arts and Culture Industry Development Law, companies carrying out management activities without proper registration may be subject to criminal sanctions.
The issue attracted criticism after it was revealed that the company only completed the registration after the issue surfaced, despite authorities having previously offered a guidance period for such registrations. At the time, Duover Entertainment released a statement explaining the situation.
“Since the artist was already promoting under an exclusive contract with our company, both the artist and the company did not fully recognize the need for separate registration for his personal business. This is due to our lack of awareness and oversight,” the agency said.
Future plans remain unclear
With the contract now officially up, attention is turning to Lee Hi’s next move in the industry. The singer, known for her distinctive vocal tone and emotional music, has built a strong fan base since her debut and is widely regarded as one of Korea’s unique singers.
It’s unclear whether Lee Hi will pursue independent activities, continue running her own agency, or join a new label, but many fans are closely watching how she will move forward after the recent controversy.
Sources: Daum | Television reportage
