Producer apologizes after GOT7's Youngjae calls out unpaid fees for 'Dream High 2'

Art One Company, the producer of the musical "Dream High 2," moved to contain a growing controversy Wednesday after GOT7 member Youngjae publicly called out the company for failing to pay his performance fees.

Youngjae took to social media Tuesday, saying a deadline the producer had set for settling outstanding payments had once again passed without action. "The promise to resolve everything by June 9 was not kept — again," he wrote.

He added that every time he reached out, he was told to wait. "By August, the unpaid settlement will have been overdue for several months," he said.

Youngjae was particularly critical of how the company handled the partial payments it did make. "Do not send a tiny fraction of what you owe and then say payment is in progress," he said. "That can hardly be called a settlement." He added that the experience left him feeling his time and effort on stage had been dismissed, and squarely blamed the producer for pushing the situation to a breaking point.

As the backlash spread, Art One Company CEO Kim Eun-ha issued a formal apology Wednesday, acknowledging that "unexpected difficulties in managing production finances" had caused the delays. "I deeply regret the profound disappointment this has caused the actors, those involved in the production, and the fans," she said. Kim added that the company had reached an amicable agreement with Youngjae's side to complete all outstanding payments this month.

The controversy has drawn additional criticism because Art One Company announced plans to press ahead with the opening of the follow-up production, "Dream High Season 3," on July 18 — even as the payment dispute from "Dream High 2" remains unresolved.