Sung Si Kyung recently opened up about being betrayed by a manager he had trusted for more than a decade, sending shockwaves through the K-pop and entertainment communities. Attention has now turned to the former manager and his standing within the industry.
On Tuesday, the YouTube channel Behind_Master released a video titled: “’I Trusted Him Even When Warned’… 10-Year Manager Betrayal! Why Sung Si Kyung’s Mental Health Collapsed.”
In the video, Lee Jin Ho explained that the former manager was a key figure at Sung Si Kyung’s agency, holding an executive director position. Despite Sung Si Kyung’s cautious nature, he treated the former manager like family. “Sung Si Kyung even covered the full cost of the former manager’s wedding,” Lee Jin Ho revealed. “He never wanted it publicized as a good deed. That shows how much he cared for him, like a brother.”
Lee Jin Ho added that Sung Si Kyung’s trust went beyond professional matters. He cared for the former manager’s four dogs, and the former manager appeared in several of Sung Si Kyung’s YouTube videos—though these have since been made private. the former manager also launched a separate entertainment company under his wife’s name and managed a well-known announcer, with Sung Si Kyung fully aware of and supportive of the side project.
Industry insiders reportedly raised concerns when the former manager was seen flaunting luxury items and living extravagantly. Lee Jin Ho noted, “People around him warned, ‘That person is dangerous,’ but Sung Si Kyung trusted him until the very end.”
The betrayal reportedly caused Sung Si Kyung both emotional and financial harm. He has paused public activities to focus on recovery, with close friends describing his mental state as deeply affected.
On Monday, Sung Si Kyung posted on his personal social media account: “At this age, experiencing something like this isn’t easy. It’s been a constant struggle and a painful period. I tried to maintain my daily life and appear fine, so as not to worry anyone or show myself falling apart. Performing on YouTube and on stage has taken a toll on my body, mind, and voice. I want to reach a point where I can confidently say, mentally and physically, that I’m okay.”
Sung Si Kyung’s agency, SK Jaewon, confirmed the situation: “It has been confirmed that Sung Si Kyung’s former manager acted against the company’s trust during his tenure. Our internal investigation recognized the seriousness of the matter, and we are currently assessing the full extent of the damage.”
