Sechskies member Lee Jae-jin sued for defamation amid year-end concert cancellation

Sechskies member Lee Jae-jin has been sued for defamation after alleging that the organizer of the group's year-end concert collected ticket payments through a personal bank account — a controversy that ultimately led to the event's cancellation. The complaint was filed by the head of Mountain Movement Story, the company that organized the concert.

Mountain Movement Story said Wednesday that its chief executive, Hwang Ji-seon, filed the defamation complaint against Lee that day. The company serves as both the organizer of the Sechskies year-end concert and the agency of Ko Ji-yong, a former Sechskies member.

The company said Hwang filed the complaint because Lee had named Hwang in a social media post and described how Hwang had received payments and handled refund requests. Mountain Movement Story drew a line around the scope of the dispute, saying, "This is unrelated to Sechskies members or the group's activities, and is not a complaint targeting Mountain Movement Story or this event. We ask that it not be interpreted as a legal dispute involving conflicts among Sechskies members or the group's activities."

On Tuesday, Lee posted on social media that he had learned Hwang "had been contacting fans individually and collecting payments into a personal account," and said he had "confirmed on multiple occasions that fans who requested refunds have yet to receive them." Lee said he had decided not to perform out of concern for fans who might be harmed.

Following Lee's announcement that he would not participate, the year-end concert was canceled. The show, planned under the title "The Tree in Inspire — Sechskies' Unfinished Story," had been set to feature three members: Lee Jae-jin, Jang Su-won and Ko Ji-yong. With Eun Ji-won and Kim Jae-deok already absent and Lee withdrawing as well, the concert was no longer viable.

The event had drawn controversy from the moment it was announced. The top ticket price of 890,000 won ($663) drew criticism for being too steep, though organizers countered that the price included hotel accommodation. The participation of Ko — who had left Sechskies — alongside the absence of members Eun Ji-won and Kim Jae-deok also sparked backlash. Ko's reported financial difficulties following a divorce, including an inability to pay child support, further fueled criticism that the concert was an attempt to profit from fans' nostalgia for the group.