Sung Si Kyung has reportedly suffered a major financial loss after being betrayed by his longtime manager, leaving fans in shock. The singer’s deep trust and generosity toward his manager — including covering the full cost of the manager’s wedding — have made the revelation even more heartbreaking.
On November 3, Sung Si Kyung’s agency, SK Jaewon, confirmed that the former manager had engaged in “acts that betrayed the company’s trust” during their tenure, adding that the agency “has recognized the seriousness of the matter through an internal investigation and is currently verifying the exact extent of the damage.”
According to insiders in the music industry, the former manager had worked closely with Sung Si Kyung for over a decade, handling key operations related to concerts, broadcasts, advertisements, and events. The two reportedly shared a bond akin to family. Years ago, when the manager got married, Sung Si Kyung is said to have paid for the entire wedding, refusing to publicize his good deed despite the significant amount he contributed.
Upon discovering the misconduct, Sung Si Kyung was reportedly devastated. The situation has taken such an emotional toll that he has been unable to finalize plans for his annual year-end concert, a tradition where he meets with fans each winter.
The singer also opened up about his feelings on social media, writing, “The past few months have been extremely difficult and unbearable. Although I have experienced betrayal by people I trusted and considered like family before, this is the first time in 25 years of my career that it has happened at this stage of life, and it’s not easy to handle.”
He continued, "I apologize for the delay in announcing the year-end concert. Honestly, I’ve been questioning whether I can even stand on stage in this situation. I want to reach a point where I can confidently say I’m okay, both mentally and physically. I’ll make a decision and post an update within this week."
Sung Si Kyung also announced that he would be taking a brief break from his regular YouTube activities.
Meanwhile, a bandmaster who has long worked with Sung Si Kyung shared a pointed message on Instagram, responding to comments defending the ex-manager: “Someone commented, ‘Celebrities make a lot of money, but managers don’t.’ I almost replied, ‘Are you that guy’s wife?’ and deleted it. This is the same person who made a scene about ticket scalping, then secretly reduced the complimentary tickets meant for performers and staff, sold the VIP tickets separately, and funneled the money — worth hundreds of millions of KRW — into his wife’s bank account. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. How could anyone defend a manager like that?”
As reports surrounding Sung Si Kyung’s former manager continue to unfold, Korean netizens have expressed a mix of shock and disappointment. Many voiced sympathy for the singer, noting his long-standing reputation for professionalism and integrity, while others demanded stricter oversight within the entertainment industry to prevent similar incidents in the future.
They commented:
"Is that the same manager who used to appear in his YouTube videos, eating meals together? They seemed like family… this is heartbreaking."
"9 years... that kind of betrayal would make anyone lose faith in people. Sung Si Kyung must be having a hard time..."
"Seriously, that’s pure evil."
"He even got married with Sung Si Kyung’s money, and still went on to scam him? People are truly terrifying..."
"Insane… there’s no devil worse than this."
"If this is true, resignation shouldn’t be the end of it. I hope he files criminal charges — this has to be punished by law."
"Crazy... the betrayal."
"Steal a needle, and soon you’ll steal a cow."
"The article said even external partners were affected, not just Sung Si Kyung. That’s even more shocking."
"Did he gamble or invest in stocks or something? Why would he do that after working together for so long?"
"Let’s not trust people too easily. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way. Even someone you’ve known for over a decade can betray you in an instant."
"Who can you trust anymore, really…"
"They worked together for 19 years. At that point, Sung Si Kyung would’ve given him a stable position and taken care of him for life. Why would he do that? Unreal."
"After 20 years of loyalty, why ruin it like this?"
"This would make anyone lose faith in humanity."
"Wow, I’d lose all trust in people after this."
"That manager is both stupid and wicked. The shock must be unbearable."
"Setting aside loyalty and duty, this is just plain stupid. Why throw everything away? He could’ve worked with Sung Si Kyung until retirement."
"I used to like Sung Si Kyung from his Jellyfish days, and I remember that manager. Even I feel betrayed — imagine how Sung Si Kyung must feel after trusting him for so long."
"Reading all these comments, it sounds like Sung Si Kyung treated him so well that if it were me, I’d just be honest and ask to borrow money instead of stealing. Why did he do it..."
"Trust is the lifeline of every relationship."
"There are too many monsters pretending to be human."
"It’s not even my business, but I feel like crying."
"So it was embezzlement. That’s terrible."
"Both husband and wife should be arrested."
"I feel sick to my stomach, seriously."
"If this makes him hate people, I wouldn’t blame him."
"Celebrities really trust their managers, and this kind of thing happens often. Even if I wasn’t a fan, I feel bad for him. It’s such an easy industry to get betrayed in."
"My heart hurts so much."
"I’m sure he’s angry, but I think the emotional pain is worse. Fans even called the manager 'brother-in-law.' He often appeared in concert VCRs and YouTube videos — fans all knew him. When Sung Si Kyung left his old agency, that manager was the only staff member he took with him. They even raised a dog together."
"Now those clips are blurred out, apparently. They were always together."
"Anyone would live with trust issues after that…"
"How can someone be that cruel? After everything Sung Si Kyung did for him and all those years together, does he have no conscience? I feel so frustrated and heartbroken, even though it’s not my problem. I hope karma gets him."
SEE ALSO: Sung Si Kyung announces temporary YouTube hiatus following betrayal by former manager
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