Clara Lee’s Scandal
Clara is known in South Korea not only as a “Sexy Icon” but also as a very scandalous celebrity. One time she offered a public apology admitting having lied several times in an attempt to cover up past mistakes. Her appearance on the show came after a self-imposed exile from the TV screens and social networking websites for days in an apologetic move. Yet it seems that there are still many disappointed and even angry fans.
“She made an apology on a comedy show with no feeling of remorse showing on her face. Are you kidding me?” an SNL Korea viewer wrote on the program’s online bulletin board. Another viewer echoed the same sentiments, saying, “I felt no sincerity from her. This is another smokescreen.”
Clara responded to her lying controversy and answered the netizens’ comments. She wrote, “I understand if you say you were not entertained, but if you say I was not being truthful it is a lie to say I like chicken and beer because I’m with good friends in a nice atmosphere, even though I actually don’t like chicken and beer? Is it a lie to be good at yoga when I was never taught it? Is it a lie to say I never dated another celebrity because I didn’t want to mention my past celebrity boyfriend?” She also pointed out that she was not used to the South Korean environment, but she will try harder to learn the culture and correct her behavior.
Clubbing with iKON’s Junhoe
In 2016, netizens claimed to have spotted Clara Lee clubbing with a member of the idol group iKON, Junhoe. They were in Arena club multiple times clubbing together during the month. According to netizens, Koo Jun Hoe was spotted walking around with a white mask and a hat. He soon joined Clara at her table for the night.
Lawsuit Against Polaris Entertainment
Dispatch, in an exclusive report, has revealed the full conversation between Clara and Polaris Entertainment CEO Lee Jong-myung, based on Clara Lee’s claim of sexual harassment and Polaris having filed a criminal suit against Clara for threatening the agency.
On January 21st, the text revealed by Dispatch shows in more detail the progression of the relations between Clara and the Polaris CEO, from friendly to strained and uncomfortable. The text conversations conclude between the two regarding Clara recommending her previous agency CEO to be her manager at Polaris, as well as the Polaris CEO trying to dissuade Clara from trying to cancel her contract.
This is how the conversation was going:
June 18th, 2014
Clara: My father is the head of Koreana Clara’s legal department, so he has to be there, but he’s overseas golfing. I’m really sorry but could we meet on June 20th?
CEO: I’m okay, but this is something that we were really busy trying to finish up. Pushing it back after hurrying it along won’t look good to the staff. I told them late last night that you were coming at 10 today.
Clara: I’m really sorry. I ended really late last night and I just found out today ㅠㅠ. I’ll explain to lawyer Moon.
CEO: Okay, I’ll explain. And I think it would be good for me to meet your father personally.
CEO: Just send me the Japanese agency contract by mail or fax.
Clara: Okay! (heart emoticon)
Clara: I’ll contact you once I get to Shanghai.
Clara: (picture)
——
July 5th, 2014
CEO: I’m upset! I am honestly trying to help you, but…
CEO: You should have said from the beginning that he’s your close oppa and you want to help him.
CEO: You’re rushing things, and because of that, I asked my employees to have meetings [regarding your digital single] even though it’s late.
CEO: I sent you messages during lunch to ask for your opinion, but… My time and stance become worthless, don’t you think? This doesn’t have to be rushed, and it isn’t important… First, you decide everything, and then, as if you’re simply notifying me…
Clara: I am truly sorry for upsetting you.
Clara: As we are only able to communicate through text messages, unfortunate things are bound to happen. Director. I should have talked about this on the phone, but I am always impatient, and I think I made a mistake. If we want to work happily together, we can’t make each other sad. I will be careful from now on. I had another big worry today, and that made me sensitive.
——
July 9th, 2014
Clara: Director, good morning~ What about having dinner today? I have a radio show tomorrow at 10, so I’d have to leave at 9. What do you think?
CEO: Did you talk with Director Kim? Let me know Director Kim’s phone number. As for dinner, let’s have it next time.
Clara: (sends contact information of Director Kim, Director of Clara’s previous agency)
Clara: Yes. Director Kim started working immediately yesterday. Director Kim made a deal on the choreography fees, and got the fees down from 2,000,000 to 250,000, found a stylist, and ordered costumes to be made.
Clara: Marketing Director [undisclosed] and President [undisclosed] finished their meeting yesterday.
CEO: I can’t fully understand what you’re trying to say. What Director Kim did? What about the stylist? And the choreography fees?
Clara: [Everything I mentioned] is what Director Kim arranged yesterday.
CEO: Did you talk about this with [undisclosed]? Is there no need for us to do anything? I advised the company president to meet up with Director Kim, and I gave him related documents. I will also personally meet him.
Clara: I don’t want to be a burden to the company. I will take care of everything, Director. Thank you so much.
CEO: Director Kim just informed me that we’ll be meeting tomorrow evening. I am currently on my way to lunch. Make sure to eat lunch.
Clara: Director, you are so fast, as expected ^^ We can’t have wine this week, then?
CEO: You got angry at me yesterday, don’t you remember? Let’s take it slow… Let’s have fun while drinking wine after you feel better again.
Clara: You are the only one I can trust, Director. Having fun sounds good.
——
July 15th, 2014
Clara: (sends photos from underwear photoshoot)
Clara: I’m sorry I keep showing you weakness. I’ll do better.
CEO: It’s pretty! Just don’t stress me out, and I’ll do well too.
——
July 17th, 2014
Clara: What do you think?
(Sends photos of August underwear photoshoot)
Clara: The photos will be in the August issue of Sure.
CEO: Your gaze and poses are seductive.
Clara: Oh yeah! Of course, Director, you’ve got a good eye. I’m glad you noticed!
CEO: I’m glad you noticed, too! See you tomorrow.
Clara: I’m in the middle of shooting an ad, so I’m just getting back to you now, sorry. I’ll see you tomorrow! Good night~
——
July 23rd, 2014
Clara: Director. As we initially discussed, it’s safest for me if I carry out my activities under Koreana Clara.
Clara: I would appreciate it if you didn’t distribute any press releases regarding an exclusive contract.
Clara: This is because of issues with previous agencies, and I would be met with a lot of criticism.
Clara: If you truly wish to protect me, then please, as we discussed, help me quietly and anonymously. Please. I’m always thankful.
CEO: Changing the exclusivity of the contract is not the goal, so you don’t have to worry about that. But not only do I not understand about helping you quietly and anonymously, but I also don’t think that is relevant.
CEO: It seems that rather than having trust in me, you still are of the same opinion as [Mr. Kim].
——
July 25th, 2014
Clara: I arrived. Where should I go?
Clara: Director. You’re so busy but I feel like I was only a burden while you are having a hard time, and I feel really bad. I am sorry.
CEO: No, that’s not true, just give me strength from now on!
——
July 30th, 2014
CEO: I hope that you grow to be a celebrity that works hard and doesn’t just calculate what’s best for herself.
CEO: I’m a good person, but to bad people, I can also be a very scary person. I don’t want to show you my scary side.
CEO: No matter what bad influence tries to move you, if you stand your ground, it’s okay.
Clara: Director, after claiming to want to protect me, you sent a certification of contents [on revealing the contract terms] after just a day. As you said, you’ve become a scary person.
CEO: Who sent it? I didn’t know about it. If there’s a problem, of course we would send a certification of contents.
Clara: I’ve already received it from you.
CEO: I just approved it, and there is nothing that’s not true, and nothing that suggests anything negative. We only have good intentions. Why are you being so sensitive?
——
August 14th, 2014
CEO: I am on an overseas business trip and I’m on my way to a dinner plan right now, and was thinking about you, Clara… What happened is a shame, thinking about it again.
CEO: When you first came to me, I was happy and I tried to have a conversation with you and make it fun… Even now, my heart is the same and hope that you and I will remain in good terms. I still wish to help you succeed, but I don’t want to be used by Director Kim.
CEO: More so because he is a very rude and reckless person. He is someone to get in big trouble at least once by someone. I don’t want to be the one to deal with him, which is why I am avoiding this situation. [This is] for you…
CEO: Whenever we’ve met, you told me that you’ve been lonely and tired and were happy to be working with me. I trusted what you said and was very sad about it so I was willing to do anything to help you. You probably know that that is why I tried to help you personally, which I’ve never done for anyone else.
CEO: But I was the only one in this whole world who didn’t know about the relationship between you and Director Kim. You put him into the company in order to have him take over your affairs. As always, you’ve been discussing everything with Director Kim. That you’ve been dealing with the situation this way makes me very sad and disappointed.
CEO: I know you won’t be changing your mind as long as you stay close to him, but I’m still messaging you anyway.
CEO: This is your business and you may take damage in a way that’s not recoverable. I’m messaging you, throwing away my pride, in order to prevent that from happening!
CEO: Looking at how you’ve been trying to cancel the contract by picking fights about every single little thing reminds me of [undisclosed] from a few years ago.
CEO: At the time [undisclosed] was 29 years old too and it’s disappointing that you seem to be walking the same path.
CEO: Who will benefit fighting over the certification of contents? It’s true that I am the final-decision maker but I can’t ignore the opinions of other staff members, and rumors spread quickly, too.
CEO: If you really don’t want to work with the company and want to fight, you should consult with a good lawyer without Director Kim. I emphasize this again but personally, I want to do everything for you that you’ve been wanting. You should think it through and make a wise decision.
Clara: Thank you for messaging me. I know that you are a person with strong pride. Are you available for wine sometime soon?
CEO: I also don’t like wasting time and energy but I hope you know that I care more for you than my pride. I return [to Korea] over the weekend so dinner next Friday would work. We can adjust according to your schedule.
——
August 19th, 2014
Clara: As I’ve mentioned to you several times previously, what I was afraid of did happen due to the reports about my contract with Polaris. I hope you take appropriate action.
Clara: (sends certification of contents from previous agency, Galaxia) Notice of breaching of exclusive contract: Concerning the issue that Clara’s exclusive management rights are with Galaxia.
CEO: [You] are introduced as being under Koreana Clara and Mr. Kim pretends to be the CEO, meeting all kinds of people for management.
CEO: If you’re pressuring our staff to bring in new work, but then want us to push back announcing that we’re your exclusive agency, how do you expect us to be able to do anything?
CEO: If I can give you one piece of advice, it’s that what you need to focus on more than Galaxia is your internal relations with this company. Because if your relations with this company are good, we will all help you.
—–
August 30th, 2014
CEO: I really feel like you are ignoring what I’ve been telling you. Why are you doing that?
CEO: Even your dad conversed with me in order to make me understand…
CEO: You should have been satisfied with going to Jeju-do with Director Kim.
CEO: Did you want to be exposed to the reporters when going to America with him? A press outlet contacted me on the day of your departure…
CEO: I held it in because I didn’t want to damage your activities. I am worried and don’t know why you’re doing this.
Clara: Director. Thank you for worrying about me. I will be careful next time. I finished the Japan Kobe Collection performance well.
——
September 4th, 2014
Clara: I don’t want a lawsuit. They want [undisclosed amount of KRW].
CEO: That’s the amount that you were going to give them anyway, isn’t it? Just settle on giving it to them. I think focusing on working would be better.
Clara: I don’t have the money right now. They are saying they want the [amount] in one full payment. Is the company able to pay it for me?
CEO: I’ll tell the legal department and the management team to look into a solution. Discuss with them and focus on work after it’s been taken care of.
CEO: I can’t focus on anything because of the Ladies’ Code accident.
Clara: I only want to focus on work. Hang in there.
——
September 5th, 2014
CEO: I’m going now after having some wine because it hurt so much after laying to rest a 22-year-old young girl who had her whole life ahead of her.
CEO: Our [company] family all came to pay respects and some even stayed for the three days, which made the time bearable.
CEO: Not even just broadcast affiliates, but hundreds of celebrities came by. People were talking about the fact that someone from our family didn’t even show their face or send a message.
CEO: I want to at least hear some sort of excuse. That you only ever talk to me about things regarding you didn’t look good, either. Even idols that I’ve never even met came by at 3 am, and the whole country is in mourning.
Clara: Director, I’m really upset, too. I really wanted to go pay my respects to EunB, and I’m really sorry that I couldn’t. I’m in mourning too.
——-
September 10th, 2014
CEO: You should have at least showed up… That’s something you are to deal with.
CEO: It’s not something for me to give you stress over.
CEO: The [members] are grieving but this is the first funeral for our company. The entire week of being at the funeral was a hard time for me, the staff, and the members, and both my mind and body are tired.
CEO: Even Xia Junsu and Naul, who have nothing to do with this situation, came to the funeral late at night after a long drive from the countryside because I contacted them. They were singers that RiSe liked, and I wanted to show them to her for the last time so I asked them a favor.
CEO: They came even while telling me not to tell the press since they usually don’t go to other people’s funeral.
CEO: I wanted you to come, not just because it would have given me strength, but because I am disappointed in you. After RiSe’s funeral, I had dinner with people like Bum Soo, YoonA, Seon Woo, and Choi Jin Yi.
CEO: Let’s meet sometime after the Chuseok vacation is over.
Clara: Director, I am also very hurt and struggling. Please help me so that we can be on good terms once again. I hope all your problems will be resolved.
CEO: Thank you. I want that too. I hold back my hatred for some people and still meet with them, so why would I want to be on bad terms with you, who I like.
CEO: You know that relationships with people can’t be one-sided, right? You have to respect one another and be considerate. Let’s both try harder.
CEO: If you still trust me as a person and want to have faith and depend on the company’s capability, you should have consulted with me and the company rather than Director Kim about your situation.
CEO: You only talk with Director Kim, and the company and I are second priority. If you go to your schedules with Director Kim instead of a manager, the company and I will be unable to help you out. You should think about that.
CEO: What you want to do and what you can do are two different things. Celebrities are public figures so they should only do things that they can do and should do.
CEO: Public figures can’t just do the things they want to do. People are influenced by love, and go wild for [public figures] because they are given that much social responsibility and burden.
CEO: I really want you to become a celebrity who influences society positively. Someone that is unlike those celebrities who are criticized and get in trouble and one day disappear.
CEO: Why are you trying to ruin the big picture because of a small thing? Everything is related to Director Kim, right? That’s so unfortunate! Please think it through carefully! You shouldn’t forget that others have ears, eyes, and are able to think for themselves…
Clara: Director. As you have experienced recently, life is very short. Please help me. I am so tired.
——
October 5th, 2014
Clara: You said you were giving up, but it looks like you sent yet another certification of contents. You wanted a reply by noon today, so I’m sending you a text.
Clara: I really hate you.
CEO: I thought of you as a sensible person, and I wanted to do my best to the end, but seeing as how you’ll say anything now, it’s regrettable.
CEO: And you don’t even send what’s true in the content certification. Why are you so sensitive about sending what’s true?
CEO: You can’t beat the truth with lies!
In May, Clara’s father, Lee Seung-kyu, told the prosecutors, “CEO Lee has actually blackmailed them and asked Clara to be an arms merchant lobbyist.” They continued to state that they found evidence of CEO Lee telling her to “cut ties with Clara’s managers and do as he says,” which also proved their case against CEO Lee.
