On March 17, 2026, the South Korean entertainment industry was stirred by reports involving actor Lee Jang Woo and his business ventures.
Known not only for his acting roles but also for his deep passion for food- often showcased on the popular variety show Home Alone- Lee Jang Woo has successfully transitioned into the culinary world with his restaurant, Hosukchon.
However, a recent investigative report by Dispatch raised serious allegations regarding unpaid bills to a livestock supplier, prompting an immediate and detailed rebuttal from his agency, HUNUS Entertainment.
The Allegations and the Transactional Breakdown
The controversy began when Dispatch reported that Company A, a livestock distribution firm, had suffered significant financial harm due to unpaid balances from Hosukchon.
The report alleged that between November 2023 and May of the following year, the restaurant failed to pay approximately 50 million won (roughly $33,500) for delivered pork by-products used in their signature sundaeguk (Korean blood sausage soup).
According to the outlet, while some payments were eventually made, additional balances continued to accrue, leading to an outstanding debt of 64 million won (approximately $42,900) as of January 2026.
In response to these claims, HUNUS Entertainment released a comprehensive statement to clear the actor’s name and explain the complex logistics of their supply chain.
The agency clarified that the issue was not a case of the restaurant refusing to pay, but rather a failure within the intermediary system.
They explained that Hosukchon does not deal with Company A directly; instead, they operate through a contractual business counterpart known as Mujin Co., Ltd.
The agency stated:
“Actor Lee Jang Woo is a shareholder of Hosukchon and also participates in its operations.
Hosukchon has already paid the full delivery payment to its contractual business counterpart Mujin Co., Ltd., in accordance with the contract, and the issue arose afterward when Mujin was unable to pay Company A.”
To verify this, the agency took the rare step of attaching verifiable materials, including a transfer confirmation receipt, which proves that Hosukchon fulfilled its financial obligations to Mujin Co., Ltd. for the supplies in question.
Clarifying Relationships and Social Media Misunderstandings
Beyond the financial specifics, the agency sought to dismantle rumors regarding the ownership and nature of the business relationships involved.
There had been claims circulating that Mujin Co., Ltd. was the actual owner of the restaurant or that Lee Jang Woo had personal ties to the intermediary firm.
HUNUS Entertainment was firm in their denial:
“In other words, there is no direct contractual relationship between Company A and Hosukchon or actor Lee Jang Woo, and reports suggesting that actor Lee Jang Woo failed to make payment are not true.
In addition, claims in some reports that ‘Mujin was the owner of Hosukchon’ are also untrue- Mujin has never held any equity stake in Hosukchon. Actor Lee Jang Woo has no connection to Mujin either.”
The agency also addressed the supplier’s claim that they had attempted to reach out to the actor via social media to resolve the debt but were ignored.
They explained the logistical difficulty of managing a high-profile celebrity account, noting:
“Regarding the point that the supplier attempted to reach out via social media: dozens of messages or more are received on actor Lee Jang Woo’s account every day, and messages from accounts he does not follow are categorized separately under ‘message requests,’ making them difficult to check immediately.
As such, it is true that he was not able to check the messages in a timely manner, but we clearly state that this was not an intentional attempt to avoid or ignore them.”
Despite the legal and contractual distance between the actor and the supplier’s grievance, the agency concluded their statement with a note of accountability.
They acknowledged that as a public figure and a business owner, there is a standard of oversight that must be maintained. They remarked:
“However, within this transaction structure, we do feel a moral responsibility for not having sufficiently monitored whether the intermediary company would fulfill its obligations.”
The statement ended with a commitment to resolving the matter:
“We regret that misunderstandings arose due to information that is not true, and we will provide any necessary cooperation so that the matter can be resolved smoothly.”
This proactive stance by HUNUS Entertainment aims to protect Lee Jang Woo’s reputation as an honest entrepreneur while ensuring that the public understands the specific breakdown in the payment chain that led to the dispute.
