Popular Actor Under Fire For Allegedly Unpaid Supplier Fees, He Issues Response
Actor Lee Jang Woo has become involved in controversy over a sundae soup restaurant known to be associated with him, due to allegations of unpaid supplier fees.
On the 17th of March, Dispatch reported that the restaurant allegedly failed to pay for pork by-products supplied by livestock farms, causing financial damage. According to the report, unpaid amounts from November 2023 to May last year reached about 50 million won. With additional outstanding balances, the total reportedly grew to around 64 million won [$43,043] by January this year.
However, a representative from the F&B company registered as the restaurant’s legal entity clarified to Ilgan Sports that the contract with the livestock supplier was actually made by Company A. They explained, “We paid Company A, but Company A failed to pay the supplier.” Lee Jang Woo is listed as a director of this F&B company.
Lee Jang Woo’s side maintains that they fulfilled their payment obligations to Company A, and therefore, under the contract, responsibility for the unpaid fees lies with Company A.
Still, since the restaurant had been promoted on various TV programs as being operated by Lee Jang Woo, it is difficult for him to avoid moral responsibility in the situation.
In response, his side stated, “Although we did not fail to make payments, we are considering covering the outstanding amount ourselves to resolve the issue.”
Even if he is cleared of direct responsibility, questions remain because the restaurant was portrayed as his own on broadcasts, despite claims that he only helped during its early startup phase. His side added that an official statement will be released after further review.
Source: (A)
